Cuba's leader, Miguel Díaz-Canel, acknowledged on Monday the growing public anxiety over the increasing drug use and trafficking in Havana, particularly in the Guanabacoa municipality, although it is an issue affecting the entire nation. During an official visit, Díaz-Canel briefly addressed the topic without providing specific statistics or concrete measures. Instead, he emphasized the role of families and communities as the primary agents responsible for tackling the problem, as noted in a state-run report.
"We need to ensure that everyone who is disconnected from education and work, and is able to engage, does so. We must fight strongly against drugs. We know there are concerns, and this fight should start within the family," the leader stated. He further added that the confrontation should be carried out "with proper functioning of institutions" and that "when we all work together, we make progress," echoing a sentiment he has reiterated in the face of other social challenges impacting Cuban youth, which, in reality, fail to resolve anything substantial.
His statement arises amidst increasing public dissatisfaction with the spread of drug use across the nation, a phenomenon documented on social media by activists, residents, and independent media. Meanwhile, authorities continue to emphasize community-based responses, avoiding a structural or institutional approach to the problem.
The Cuban regime has formally acknowledged the presence and circulation of a more lethal version of the "chemical" in the country, a synthetic drug distributed on atomized papers. Experts from the Ministry of the Interior (Minint) have admitted that its composition includes extremely hazardous substances such as fentanyl, formaldehyde, animal anesthetics, benzodiazepines, and phenobarbital.
This official acknowledgment marks a shift in rhetoric that previously downplayed the severity of the issue, according to a report by the state-sponsored outlet Cubadebate. Far from being an isolated or controlled issue, authorities admit to hospitalizations due to overdoses, an increase in drug-related criminal proceedings, and a rising consumption pattern among young Cubans.
Additionally, the official report highlighted that 90% of individuals who try this new variant of the chemical in Cuba become hooked from the first dose, acknowledging its rapid spread and high lethality.
Addressing Drug Use Concerns in Havana
What is the Cuban government's stance on the rising drug problem?
The Cuban government, led by Miguel Díaz-Canel, acknowledges the increasing concern over drug use and trafficking, especially in Havana. However, they emphasize family and community roles in combating the issue, without providing specific measures or statistics.
What substances are found in the new drug variant in Cuba?
The new drug variant circulating in Cuba contains dangerous substances such as fentanyl, formaldehyde, animal anesthetics, benzodiazepines, and phenobarbital, making it highly lethal.
How does the drug issue affect Cuban youth?
The rise in drug use is leading to hospitalizations for overdoses and an increase in drug-related crimes among Cuban youth, with many becoming addicted from the first dose of the new drug variant.