Cuba’s Rising Drug Crisis: Synthetic Substances Transform Island Nation

Several dozen people stood in a circle at a Havana psychiatric hospital, holding hands as they chanted in unison, vowing to rid their bodies of “the toxins that enslave.” This collective plea marked the first step of a 90-day detoxification program before beginning rehabilitation—a scene that would have been virtually unimaginable in Cuba just a decade ago.

Until the beginning of this decade, drug use was an almost-unknown phenomenon in Cuba. Now, a deepening economic crisis, shortages of basic goods, and the emergence of low-cost synthetic drugs have combined to transform the social landscape of the island nation.

In Havana and other cities across Cuba, it is no longer unusual to see young people in public parks sleeping, walking with difficulty, or lying unconscious—visible signs of a growing drug problem that has caught many by surprise.

According to authorities, the primary threat is the “químico” (chemical)—a potent cocktail of synthetic cannabinoids mixed with hazardous additives. Also known on the streets as “papelitos,” or “little papers,” the drug is absorbed into sheets of paper that are sliced into tiny doses and smoked. At approximately 250 Cuban pesos per hit (about 50 cents), it costs less than a basic loaf of bread or a can of soda.

“It’s very cheap…and it’s everywhere,” said David Morales, a 25-year-old in recovery after receiving help at government-funded health centers. He now participates in rehabilitation therapy at the Alcance Victoria Cuba evangelical Baptist church.

Monitoring a Growing Crisis

Acknowledging the rise in consumption, Cuba’s Ministry of Health and several state agencies established a National Drug Observatory in July—an initiative designed to research, monitor, and mitigate the impact of illegal drugs on the island.

Although the government does not maintain comprehensive statistics on drug users, Dr. Tania Adriana Peón, head of mental health and addictions at the General Directorate of Health, points to emergency room data as a barometer for the growing trend. In 2024, 467 people sought help or were registered in emergency rooms in Havana. By 2025, that figure had nearly doubled to 886.

Cuba maintains a zero-tolerance policy on drugs, with drug trafficking punishable by up to life imprisonment. While not a drug-producing country, authorities now acknowledge that the island is not immune to drug use.

Sporadically, packages of cocaine abandoned by traffickers during chases wash ashore—these are known locally as “recalos” or washups. Drugs are also smuggled into the country among imported goods, and to a lesser extent, domestic marijuana plantations have been detected.

“The primary challenge Cuba faces today is related to new psychoactive drugs or synthetic cannabinoids, which originate mainly from the United States,” said Col. Juan Carlos Poey Guerra of Cuba’s Interior Ministry.

He added that police laboratories detected 46 new synthetic formulations in the last year alone. Among the substances mixed with cannabinoids were the anticonvulsant carbamazepine, formaldehyde, and fentanyl. Between 2024 and 2025, authorities thwarted 72 attempts to smuggle drugs into the country from 11 different origins, with the United States being the primary source of the precursor substances used to manufacture químico.

Treatment Approaches

Health care in Cuba is state-run and free, so neighborhood family clinics are typically the first to detect signs of drug use. Patients with more severe or complex conditions are referred by health authorities for longer, more intensive hospital stays.

The Associated Press recently toured a 40-bed men’s ward at the Havana Psychiatric Hospital, where patients aged 20 to 30 are undergoing a 90-day detox before beginning rehabilitation.

The space was divided into two-bed cubicles adorned with family photos and featured a small reading area, dining room, and recreation space. Patients wear white T-shirts emblazoned with the slogan “We win against drugs” and take responsibility for cleaning their surroundings each day.

“I was incredibly depressed…living on the streets; I just couldn’t take it anymore,” said 23-year-old Daniel Fulleda, who was admitted in January. Speaking enthusiastically about his future, he shared plans to get married before the year’s end and start a family. “Next year, I’ll start my own business.”

Community and Faith-Based Support

For decades, the highly centralized state was solely responsible for treating drug and alcohol users—especially alcohol users—but the magnitude of the current challenge has opened the door for other community actors.

“There are neighborhoods that are infested… I’ve seen young people using drugs right in front of me,” said Pastor Abel Pérez of the Alcance Victoria Cuba church. “As a pastor, I’m not called to sit idly by.”

Last year, the church provided therapy to approximately 50 young people and their families. Today, more than a dozen individuals attend sessions regularly.

“In my youth, talking about drugs was extraordinary… The problem has grown so rapidly and in such a short time that, to some extent, it has overwhelmed the country’s capacity to address it,” said Alejandro Morales, a 57-year-old oceanographic engineer who accompanies his son David to meetings at the Alcance Victoria Cuba church.

In the same room, 64-year-old Vilma Arias sought help alongside her 36-year-old daughter. Her other son, 26, is also struggling with drug use but refuses to seek treatment.

“We have to pray a lot,” she said. “My daughter is a wonderful teacher and my son is a graduate in automotive mechanics. I don’t even know how they fell into this.”

For a country long insulated from widespread drug problems, Cuba’s current crisis represents not just a public health challenge but a profound social transformation—one that authorities, healthcare providers, and communities are now scrambling to address.