Drug trade and consumption in Puebla schools

Legislators in Puebla, Mexico, have raised alarms regarding the presence of drug trafficking and consumption within the school system. Initially, Deputy Nayeli Salvatori Bojalil reported that in the Cholula district, students were reportedly involved in distributing illicit substances within a telesecundaria, noting that educators feared retaliation for reporting these activities.

Following these reports, Deputy Kathya Sánchez Rodríguez expanded the scope of the concern, warning of drug use among children as young as eight years old. This issue has been specifically identified in the Mixteca and Sierra Norte regions, including municipalities such as Ahuacatlán, Zongozotla, Huitzilan, and Chignahuapan. Sánchez Rodríguez attributed the vulnerability of minors to risk factors like poverty and hunger.

In response to these developments, legislative efforts have shifted toward prevention and security measures. Proposed actions include the implementation of ‘operativo mochila’ (backpack checks) conducted under legal frameworks that respect student rights, as well as the promotion of ‘Elige Vivir’ (Choose to Live) workshops to strengthen addiction prevention through coordinated institutional efforts.