02/24/2026
At the intersection of borders, addiction, economic instability, and public policy is something we don’t talk about enough: mental health. These issues are not isolated. Drug trafficking intersects with demand. Demand intersects with untreated trauma and substance use disorders. Migration intersects with work, safety, and opportunity. Violence intersects with systemic instability. When we reduce complex systems to “us vs. them,” we lose nuance — and we lose people. Human dignity and public safety are not opposing values. If we want safer communities in San Diego and beyond, we invest at the intersection: prevention, treatment, mental health access, economic opportunity, and evidence-based policy. Dehumanization is not a solution. Systems require shared responsibility.