Drug Sales and Teacher Abuse Raise Safety Concerns in Quintana Roo Schools

Cancún, Quintana Roo — Schools in Quintana Roo are confronting urgent safety issues, with drug sales on campuses and teacher misconduct toward students prompting calls for increased security and parental vigilance.

For weeks, families have reported that drug sales are occurring inside middle schools and high schools, with dealers offering substances to students and establishing “sales points” in areas near campuses. The problem has escalated from whispers to public outcry as more parents become aware of the situation.

At Gabriela Mistral Secondary School in Cancún, the State Prosecutor’s Office recently arrested five individuals: Johan Francisco N, 19; Roberto Carlos N, 17; Jesús Martín N, 16; Daniel Alejandro N, 15; and Brandon Alonso N, 15. The average age of young people selling and consuming drugs in these settings is 16.

Adolescent Risk Factors

Specialists warn that drug use typically begins between ages 12 and 13, starting with alcohol and tobacco before progressing to marijuana and cocaine in many cases. The period of highest risk for initiating drug use occurs during middle to late adolescence, making ages 11 to 14 crucial for preventive actions.

Risk factors include academic failure, family problems, low self-esteem, co-occurring psychiatric disorders, leisure time, and social interactions with family, friends, and school. Educators, parents, and professionals need to understand these factors to implement preventive interventions that can strengthen protective factors for youth.

Authorities and parents should consider organizing patrols around secondary schools and high schools during student arrival and dismissal times to detect suspicious behavior from individuals who don’t belong to the school community. The problem of adolescents beginning drug use—whether alcohol or other substances—is significant and requires collective attention.

Teacher Misconduct Case

In a separate incident, a teacher at Javier Rojo Gómez Secondary School in Cancún was discovered to be in a romantic relationship with a 14-year-old student. The girl’s mother discovered WhatsApp conversations on her daughter’s phone that revealed the inappropriate relationship extended beyond academic boundaries.

When the mother confronted school officials, she received unclear responses. She eventually called 911, prompting the Specialized Group for Attention to Family and Gender Violence to respond and provide protection for the minor.

In both cases, parents need to remain vigilant about their teenagers’ behavior. The discontinued “backpack operations” in schools are insufficient—parents should conduct checks at home and maintain access to their children’s phones, despite potential objections from the teenagers.

Society has a responsibility to protect the next generation, even as some individuals work against their healthy development.