Story

Drug Addiction Along the Mexican Border

January 30, 2013 | Pulitzer Center
By
Louie Palu, for the Pulitzer Center

Mexicans look through the U.S.-Mexico border fence into the United States from a Mexican beach west of Tijuana. Image by © Louie Palu/ZUMA. Mexico, 2012.

Looking north toward the San Ysidro port of entry from Tijuana to the United States. Long lines of cars and pedestrian foot traffic result in several hour delays. Image by © Louie Palu/ZUMA. Mexico, 2012.

The western end of the U.S.-Mexico land border and fence on the Pacific Ocean seen from west of Tijuana. Image by © Louie Palu/ZUMA. Mexico, 2012.

A section of the old U.S. border fence separating Imperial Beach, California, seen from the western edge of Tijuana with a newer taller second U.S. border fence in the background. Image by © Louie Palu/ZUMA. Mexico, 2012.

Looking through the U.S. border fence into San Ysidro, a small U.S. border community in the southern section of San Diego County. These small openings in the fence are used by the U.S. Border Patrol to monitor the Mexican side of the border. Image by © Louie Palu/ZUMA. Mexico, 2012.

Looking north from east of Tijuana, Mexico: The U.S. border fence cuts through mountains in the states of California in the U.S. and Baja California in Mexico. Image by © Louie Palu/ZUMA. Mexico, 2012.

Looking north towards the United States from west of Tecate, Mexico: A section of the old U.S. border fence near a newer taller section of the fence. Image by © Louie Palu/ZUMA. Mexico, 2012.

Men of Mexican or Central American origin pray before a meal at a shelter for migrants who have been deported from the United States or who are preparing to attempt an illegal crossing into the United States. Image by © Louie Palu/ZUMA. Mexico, 2012.

A heroin addict who lives in the levee of the Tijuana River on the Mexican side of the U.S. Mexico border. Image by © Louie Palu/ZUMA. Mexico, 2012.

Mexican heroin addicts prepare needles for injecting the drug along the Tijuana River in Mexico. Image by © Louie Palu/ZUMA. Mexico, 2012.

A heroin addict shooting up along the Tijuana River in Mexico.
Image by © Louie Palu/ZUMA. Mexico, 2012.

Pelicans sit by a fisherman on a section of beach in Rosarito, a beach community in Baja California, Mexico, located south of Tijuana. Image by © Louie Palu/ZUMA. Mexico, 2012.

Shown here are portions of the border fence that stretches from Tijuana and the Pacific Ocean to Tecate, Mexico. Heroin addiction is prevalent along the Tijuana River.