_ TheSalt LakeTribune WORLD Al4 Thursday,November 22, 2001 MexicoBattles Its Border Town Drug Abuse BYJULIE WATSON district — the street called Nifios Heroes, or Child Heroes, a noble namefor a place ‘THE ASSOCIATEDPRESS where Mexico's youth waste away smok- ing and shooting upon the curbs as traffic TIJUANA, Mexico With a vial of cocaine teetering between her finy-eyed woman pauses while ae rene passes by. Long a transit country where drugs Devues a pile of trash near passed through to an insatiable U.S. market, Mexico has seen addictions to hard the streets of Nearby, os maninhis20s sits on the curb Tijuana, Mexico, behind a parked pickup and lights a vial earlierthis creme peo ve al passesthe w witha thy eeeeS pate car passes ashe inhales. A forgotten hypodermicneedlerests onthetruck'stire. Others shuffle by, their clothes and faces dirty as they awaken on a recent with the United American reporter and photographer, States. wondering if they are potential customers _ Marking Mexico's border midmorning fromsidewalks, abandoned houses and cars. Several approach an Be Ruewy ug may for their goods crack cocaine, heroin and methamphetamines. “Looking for anything special?” they soarin Mexico's border towns. askin broken E: Associated Press file photo ‘This is the heart of Tijuana’s drug drugs skyrocket overthe past decade. Now, officials fear tightened U.S. border securityin the aftermath ofthe Sept. 11 terrorist attacks may exacerbate the prob- lem as smugglers try to sell their undelivered loadslocally. Mexicancities along the U.S. borderalreadylead the country’s drug use astraffickers pay their transporters in drugs than money. ana has the highest consumption of illegal drugs in the country — three times the national average, according to the government. The bordercities of Ciudad Juarez and Matamoros areclose behind. Recovered heroin addict Jose Luis Avalos, who runs a drug rehabilitation center in Tijuana, said the longer the U.S. government seals the border, the more dealers will be looking to the domestic marketas an alternative. Drug rehabilitation centers have grown rapidly in Tijuana. Avalos’ group, the Integral Recovery Center for Alcoholic and Drug Addicts,is considered among the best. State human rights prosecutor Raul Ramirez said abuses abound at some other centers. There have been cases of addicts being beaten to death, chained to walls and denied food in the nameofdiscipline. Ramirez blames the governmentfor not doing enough for addicts. The failure to clean up corruption hasfueled the problem,he said. “The police know where the drugs are being produced, where the heroin,the cocaine are being distributed. They go by each week and get paid themselves,” Ramirezsaid. POLO BEARS Two great bagsfor a rect | price! Just 19.50 with any Polo fragrance purchase Three bears that care! Getall three bears for just 16.50 with any 35.00 Ralph Lauren fragrance purchase. A donation will be made from Ralph Lauren Fragrancesto the Nina Hyde Center for Breast Cancer Research. A 92.00 value, yours for 75.00. of 35.00 or more. Shows: 2.0 oz. EDT Offernot valid on valuesets. ACQUA D GIO Fragrance selection may vary by store. In celebration of Thanksgiving, Dillard’s storeswill be closed Thursday, November 22. Have a safe and joyous holiday. Shop Monday-Saturday See nee Seay 12-0 Fi 0 eters’s locations: In Salt Lake City: Fashion Place and South Towne Center. In Ogden: Newgate Mall. in Provo: Provo Towne Centre. Wewelcome your Dillard's Credit Card, The American Express® Card, Diners Club International, Mastercard? Visa® and The Discover Card.