The National Commission for Mental Health and Addictions of Mexico (CONASAMA), in collaboration with the COPOLAD III Programme and Episteme Social, has released two new publications: the Person-Centred, Evidence-Based Treatment Guide and the Guide for Early Intervention in Fentanyl and Methamphetamine Use. Both documents are intended for professionals who work with people experiencing problematic methamphetamine and fentanyl use, as well as for institutions involved in prevention and community-based work.
These new guides complement the Fieldwork Technical Guide and the Toolkit for Addressing the Use of These Psychoactive Substances in Mexico, which were developed in 2024 with the support of the RIA Institute.
Scientific evidence and international best practices
The four guides published within the COPOLAD III framework respond to the shared need to address the significant impact of methamphetamine and fentanyl use in certain regions of Mexico, particularly in northern border areas and among migrant communities.
The new publication focused on care and treatment—validated by a broad group of experts—was presented on 21 November in Mexico City. It integrates scientific evidence and international best practices into treatment models adapted to the Mexican context, with an emphasis on harm reduction, human rights and a community-based approach. Its development process was participatory, ensuring it reflects the real needs of services and professionals across the country.
“The goal is for this guide to become a national reference document—a useful and valuable tool for those working in the treatment of fentanyl and methamphetamine use disorders,” CONASAMA noted.
A training cycle with local and national reach
To strengthen the institutional response, CONASAMA, with the support of COPOLAD III and the RIA Institute, has also launched a training cycle at both local and national levels for frontline health workers and community-based personnel.
The cycle began in person on 21 and 22 October in Hermosillo, Sonora, and continued with an online phase on 30 and 31 October.
In total, more than 150 professionals from the national service network received training in the practical application of the Technical Guides and Toolkits, strengthening their capacity for a comprehensive response to the use of these substances.
Between 2013 and 2020, the number of people receiving treatment in Mexico for problematic methamphetamine use increased by 218%. In the case of fentanyl—50 times more potent than heroin—there has been a notable rise in intoxications and overdose deaths, reflecting a social and public health crisis affecting North America, whose effects are beginning to emerge in Mexico.
