Baja California Sur’s Health Secretariat has delivered free mental health and addiction prevention services to more than 28,000 adolescents since 2025, the state government announced during a ceremony in Cabo San Lucas on June 26, International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
The program serves young people ages 10 to 19 through nine facilities spread across all five of the state’s municipalities: La Paz, Los Cabos, Comondú, Mulegé, and Loreto. All services are outpatient, professional, and free of charge, with no insurance required.
Nine Facilities Across BCS
The state operates six Community Mental Health and Addiction Centers, known by their Spanish acronym CECOSAMA, along with two UNEME Mental Health outpatient units and one specialized smoking cessation clinic. These facilities work in coordination with IMSS Bienestar, the federal health system that replaced the old IMSS Prospera program.
State health official Romero Sillas announced the figures at a ceremony held at an addiction rehabilitation center in Cabo San Lucas. The center is accredited by CONASAMA, the National Commission on Mental Health and Addictions.
Warning Signs for Parents
Health officials used the announcement to urge families to watch for early warning signs in teenagers. Red flags include social isolation, sudden behavioral changes, loss of interest in daily activities, and evasiveness when asked about their routines. Officials stressed that early intervention at local outpatient units can prevent conditions from escalating to hospitalization or long-term residential rehabilitation.
The program covers the 2025 and early 2026 period. Its nine facilities provide a statewide safety net in a region where private rehab programs can cost $6,000 to $14,000 for a 21-day stay. The free public option removes a significant financial barrier for local families.
How to Access Services
Families can visit any of the nine facilities without an appointment or insurance card. The state health secretariat posts locations and hours on its website at ssbcs.gob.mx. Services are available in all five municipalities, so residents in smaller towns like Loreto and Mulegé do not need to travel to La Paz or Los Cabos for care.
This story was first reported by the Baja California Sur state government and La Polaca BCS.