Cancún’s Youth Drug and Alcohol Detention Crisis

Cancún, Mexico — A rise in cases involving young people implicated in administrative offenses related to alcohol and drug consumption is triggering alarms among municipal authorities, who warn that social networks have become the primary meeting point for gatherings and parties where such incidents are recorded.

From February 2025 to the present, the Civic Courts of Benito Juárez have detained and channeled 66 young people to the Municipal Institute Against Addictions (IMCA), according to its director, Jorge Rivero Pech. He acknowledged that the figure reflects worrying behavior among minors.

"Truthfully, the young people are a bit out of control; they easily convene on social networks to hold parties, and unfortunately, alcohol consumption is very high. It is at these activities where brawls or conflicts begin, forcing Public Security officers to intervene," he commented.

According to the official, between six and ten minor offenders are presented each week, and nine out of every ten cases are linked to the consumption of some substance. Instead of imposing severe sanctions, the youths are referred to the IMCA, where they receive psychological guidance and family accompaniment as part of a strategy aimed at preventing recidivism and addressing the root of the problem.

Rivero Pech emphasized that these actions are part of the new homologated model of civic justice, implemented in Benito Juárez since February 2025, which aims to replace a punitive scheme with an educational and restorative one.

Concurrently, the municipality is advancing in the implementation of the oral hearings room, which is 95 percent complete. This facility will allow for the resolution of conflicts in a more agile, transparent, and citizen-friendly manner.

"We are practically ready; only a few technical details for the installation of cameras and microphones remain. The staff has already been trained by the Judiciary in matters of orality, human rights, diversity, and attention to minors," he stated.

The civic justice model in Cancún represents a paradigm shift in the handling of administrative offenses, betting on prevention, mediation, and social reintegration in a context where social pressure and digital exposure increasingly influence the behavior of young people.