Joel got up early today, the desperation didn't let him sleep. It's not even 8:00 am and he'll be taking the trolley and rushing from San Diego to Tijuana. The young man, an American Citizen, will cross the border several times a week just to get a "Cowboy"; but Joel is just another case of many...

A few years back purchasing and selling hardcore drugs at the border was limited exclusively to the downtown area in Tijuana, specifically in Avenida Revolucion, however civil associations are warning of a new trend: the acquisition of narcotics in the Tijuana River Canal.

Within the concrete river that traverses the entire city, and serves as a sort of national division between Mexico and the United states, there are three "drug connections", according to state and municipal Authorities.

The Civil Association Prevencasa, that for over 2 decades has dedicated itself to needle exchange programs in Baja California, has documented in the last few months an increase of the number of american citizens that are drug users, crossing the border exclusively to get drugs known as "Cowboys" or "Speedball".

Rosario Lozada, Project Coordinator at Prevencasa, explained that the drug known as "Cowboys" or "Speedball" is commonly a combination of Heroin and Cocain; however ht has been "Tijuanized" to provoke longer lasting effects.

Inside the Tijuana River Canal, the mix is done with heroin and crystal meth and is applied by small time drug dealers who some have begun calling themselves "doctors", "they are young men who are inside the drug connections and can find the vein and inject the drug without causing lesions".

"People come down walking, on bikes or even in their car, still dressed with their school uniforms, they

shoot up and then they had back to the United States, they do it here because in the States it's highly punishable. You can tell where they're coming from because they're clean cut, and even bring water and snacks to the people at El Bordo" the Lawyer reveals.

She explains that "speedball" and "Cowboys" have become the popular drug, replacing cocain which is sold on the streets but for a very high price. The association Prevencasa, estimates that in Southern California, a doses of heroin costs $25 dollars, where as in Tijuana it only costs $5 dollars.

Documented Cases

The hardcore drug consumption in Tijuana by american citizens has begun to set off a series of red lights in the United States since 2005. Back then Aaron Rubin was only 23 years old, lived in Escondido, California and after getting a hold controlled substances such as Oxycodone and Hydrocodone, he suffered a heart attack and two strokes which have left him crippled for life.

In San Diego controlled substance abuse is a major problem, causing up to 5 times more deaths than car accidents, which according to reports from the Southern California District attorney and the Center for Disease Control, are estimated at 267 deaths due to substance abuse where as car accidents are only 63 deaths, it is noteworthy that these substances that can be acquired in Tijuana without prescription.

In an interview with Aaron Robin's Mother, Sherry, she revealed that her son was a fanatic of traveling to Tijuana, to the "Caliente" Casino and afterward getting drugs in the Downtown area. She considers that authorities on both sides of the border should pay closer attention to the clandestine drug sales

Laura.Sanchez@sandiegored.com

Daniel.Aguilar@sandiegored.com