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Bobby X's avatar

Great reporting as always. I agree that the US demand contributes to violence in Mexico, but Mexicans are in denial, especially in Tijuana, about the self inflicted spiritual violence of addiction that they suffer from. I was going down to the Zona for almost 20 years. I hung out with the “Ice” addicted , who can function, Except when they have slept for 72 hours. The many US deportees that populate the Zona where dropped into Mexico without a penny, after years in the States. They only way they could cope is with drugs. Even in the US, people complain that the homeless use drugs. I used some for a while when I was homeless, but I was lucky to not get addicted. But I know the tremendous weight of pain that being homeless brings. It’s almost unbearable feeling less then, hopeless and invisible

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Annette's avatar

TY, Ioan. Have you ever watched - on YouTube, Instagram or Facebook ~~ Tales From the Street? The creator interviews homeless addicts with compassion, as he was once a homeless addict too. It's worth watching! This program interviews the homeless US Fentanyl pill addicts, seeing for real, it's absolutely flooding streets of Phoenix, LA - up the West coast to Seattle and further North even - and, no doubt, many cities I don't know.

Frustrating how easily the products can be made and distributed. I've read these US "Blues" or other- named fentanyls are 10x more powerful than heroin and 100x more powerful than morphine, but I am not fact checked in that - maybe you know.

I'm glad CJNG and other cartels banned fentanyl pills here in Mexico - except TJ - as you report. What awful situation with the deported homeless there!

I guess nature of rank & file-game on corruption, a secrecy kind of mentality, poverty, cartel know-how ~ that's Mexican lands almost unwittingly facilitating wicked severe drug addiction. Perhaps the Catholic mentality doesn't help: follow the rules, forgive all, fatalism. Then China is profit motivated as well, no scruples, apparently.

I read no news of the US government doing anything, or signs of awareness, about the various fentanyl pill smoking ruining lives and ending them, too. I'm guessing products are statistically effing in poverty areas or with homeless peoples, though anyone could take them. But when you're desperate, something this strong will jump. You just think, there for the grace of God go I. It's easy to slip in the US system, with little safety net, and less family structure, as we have in Mexico - but you're right, it's probably simply the fentanyl ban keeping it from our Mexican population.

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