'Race Against Drugs' in Vallarta a Huge Success Psychologist Ma. Beatriz Barron Hernandez - Juvenile Integration Center
July 3, 2014

June 26 of each year commemorates the "International Day of Struggle Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking" ("Día Internacional de Lucha Contra El Uso Indebido y El Tráfico Ilícito de Drogas"), which was originally approved on June 26, 1987 at the UN General Assembly by the Secretary General, Sr. Javier Pérez de Cuéllar, in a commemorative ceremony held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. He issued a message that was circulated around the world, calling on Governments and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, political and religious leaders and the world community, to celebrate this international day with special ceremonies and commemorative events to intensify and strengthen the actions and cooperation at all levels against the consumption and trafficking of drugs in order to rid society of the problem of the abuse of drugs.

The motto for this year of 2014 was: "A message of hope: drug use disorders are preventable and treatable." Therefore, the Juvenile Integration Center of Puerto Vallarta conducted a series of preventive activities including lectures and informational modules, throughout the month of June, with the aim of:

• Disseminating the effects and damage associated with the use of illicit drugs, especially the consumption of methamphetamine that has had an increase in Puerto Vallarta.
• Increasing the perception of risk, especially in the population of adolescents and young people.
• Strengthening protective factors, which promotes the creation of healthy lifestyles.
• Removing stigmas or tags around drug users, since they promote the rejection, abandonment, keep the habits hidden, thus denying any possibility of help. On the contrary, we must be aware: the drug addicts are human beings just like any ordinary citizen and therefore deserve a dignified treatment equal to all.
• Identifying myths and realities about what leads a person to initiate or maintain any illegal drug.

The following table shows the activities carried out in different locations and the coverage achieved.

"It should be noted that to close this cycle, we carried out the "Race Against Addictions" on Sunday, June 29, beginning at 8:00 am in order to promote sports activities because it is proven that this helps the mental and physical health in forming healthy social relations. It generates thoughts and behaviors that help the self-care and appropriate decision making. It decreases the development of violent behavior and strengthens coexistence and integration of the family. In the case of people who are in the process of rehabilitation of drug use, it helps with the development of universal structures of judgment, coexistence and liability and promotes capabilities for the acquisition of knowledge, the restoration of values and structures of healthy coexistence.

In conjunction with the "Race Against Drugs" there was also a "Health Fair" held at the Puerto Vallarta Sports Stadium with participation by CIMUSIDA Primary Center for Addictions in Puerto Vallarta, the Municipal Women's Institute and CIJ.

Finally, I thank all the managers and teams of the different institutions that allowed access both to my core staff as volunteers to reach these coverages. So I also thank the support of the institutions that participated in the health fair described previously. In the organization and conduction of the race, thanks go to the COMUFODAJ (Municipal Sports Council) of the of Puerto Vallarta City Hall who brought broadcasting and surprise awards (soccer balls, Reebok backpacks, passes for Splash and Nike shirts), along with the kiosk as official sponsor and awarding the prizes to the winners: 5,000 pesos in cash was distributed according to the place occupied (1st, 2nd, 3rd) in each category both as women's and men's categories; raffle of 2 bikes, and also supported with the broadcasting on radio and through posters.

A big "muchas gracias" to everybody!

"To Live Without Addictions" is the motto of Puerto Vallarta's Juvenile Integration Center (CIJ - Centros de Integración Juvenil). We invite you to visit us at 479 Durango in Col. Mojoneras (corner of Jalisco Street) or telephone us at (322) 555-2900 or (322) 290-0568, Monday to Friday from 8 o'clock in the morning until 7:30 in the afternoon.

Psychologist Ma. Barron Beatriz Hernández. Director of Juvenile Integration Center (CIJ), Puerto Vallarta

Translated by Karla Beatriz Martínez Barrón

Read related: Run the Race for 'International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking'  and Health Fair and Race Against Drugs at Vallarta's Sports Stadium

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