Alcoholism: policies and inconsistencies in the health sector in Mexico

Abstract

This paper enumerates the main direct and indirect consequences of alcohol consumption on Mexico’s general health. In comparison to other addictive substances, alcohol causes more negative consequences. The authors discuss the biomedical concept of dependency and emphasize the inconsistencies of the health sector’s differentiated legal approach to alcohol in respect to other addictive substances. Based on this information, this paper enlists the principal health policies that deal with alcoholism in Mexico, as well as the latest proposals formulated to deal with this problem in the region. The paper concludes with an analysis about the harm reduction strategies combined with other proposals generated by particular groups of civil society.