Drug Rehab Information in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is the largest U.S. territory by size and population. Officially known as the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territory is only 1,000 miles from Miami. Thanks to its ideal geographical location, Puerto Rico is a popular port for Mexican drug cartels to smuggle both ingoing and outgoing drugs like heroin, fentanyl, and tranquilizers. In 2017, with approximately $74 billion in bond obligations, Puerto Rico was the largest government in U.S. history to seek bankruptcy. That left Puerto Rico reeling from a major public health crisis with virtually no funding to care for the residents, the drug epidemic encompassing the island, or the high rates of HIV and AIDS spurred on by IV drug use.
Puerto Rico Drug and Alcohol Statistics:
- Nearly 3.2 million Puerto Ricans are considered U.S. citizens.
- Experts estimate that in 2013, close to 60,000 people on this island misused substances on a regular basis.
- Experts estimate that over 8% of the population has a history of illicit drug use.
- According to Department of Justice data, almost 20% of drug charges in the commonwealth are for heroin.
- 40% of Puerto Ricans infected with HIV and AIDS are thought to have contracted them because of intravenous drug use.