Querétaro addiction management and prevention efforts

The State Council Against Addiction (CECA) in Querétaro has implemented new regulatory and preventative measures. In San Juan del Río and Tequisquiapan, the council introduced an updated protocol for the closure of residential addiction treatment establishments to improve inter-institutional coordination and protect patient rights.

Concurrently, rehabilitation center leaders in San Juan del Río have criticized a 2023 policy restricting the admission of minors to residential treatment, arguing that outpatient services through Primary Addiction Care Centers (CAPA) may not sufficiently address risks from potent synthetic drugs among youth.

To address addiction, CECA has expanded its “Voces del Cambio” (Voices of Change) prevention strategy. The program utilizes testimonies from formerly incarcerated individuals to engage students and parents in dialogue about risk behaviors, while providing employment opportunities to those sharing their experiences to aid social reintegration.

As of November 2026, the program has expanded to ten municipalities, including recent sessions in Huimilpan, Amealco, and Corregidora. CECA Commissioner Sebastián Granados Ponce stated the initiative aims to involve families in prevention through real-life testimonies. The program has reached over 3,000 participants at the secondary school level, with officials intending to cover all 18 municipalities in the state by the end of the year.