Spring Break Dangers

Laura Doncaster
Alpha Gamma Delta

As soon as students return to campus after winter break, they instantly start anticipating their spring break destinations. Winter quarter is full of heavy course loads, limited social activities, frigid weather, and an absence of sunlight, all of which have students eagerly awaiting their week-long tropical escape.

The majority of spring break goers venture to Panama City Beach or Daytona Beach, while a few lucky college students manage to find relatively inexpensive cruises to the Bahamas. However, one popular vacation spot has become increasingly dangerous, and people should take caution or avoid it altogether. Mexico.   

Acapulco, a city in Mexico, is another popular spring break vacation spot. However, it is now Mexico’s most violent resort city due to drug cartels. Drug traffickers and cartels attack the police as well as vacationers. According to the Mexican government, cartel-related deaths rose 147 percent from 2009 to 2010. One thing that I found quite unsettling was a statement made by the Texas Department of Public Safety Director, Steven C. McCraw, “various crime problems exist in many popular resort areas, such as Acapulco, and crimes against U.S. citizens often go unpunished.”

Everyone’s heard of the beautiful, sunny beaches of Cancun, Mexico. It’s probably one of the most popular spring break resorts for college students. Because of the amount of American vacationers that travel to Cancun for spring break, many feel like they are not in a foreign country, and assume that they are under the protection of U.S. laws. The amount of crime is escalating in Cancun because of its increasing population. For the most part, rapes take place in a club setting and involve alcohol. I personally think that crimes occur when people are not aware of their surroundings, it’s important to keep in mind that you are in a foreign country, and a resort where crimes are more commonplace.

In addition to crimes, another danger that exists in Cancun is the undertow and strong current that is present at some of the beaches. This is a factor that could be problematic at other beaches as well. Swimming in an ocean should not be taken lightly. Strong waves and currents present problems for inexperienced swimmers, and this can be especially dangerous for intoxicated people.

In many parts of Mexico where drug cartels are strong, kidnapping and abductions can be a serious threat. Americans are prime targets because of the thought that Americans are wealthy and would provide ransom money to kidnappers. Girls are at a higher risk, so while on spring break try to stay with a big group of people as often as possible.

Mazatlan is another spring break hot spot in Mexico. One of Mexico’s most dangerous and violent drug cartels lives very close to the city and resorts. According to the Global Intelligence firm, STRATFOR: gangs, kidnappers, and the cartel kill victims and leave the bodies on the streets regularly. McCraw stated, “Our safety message is simple: avoid travelling to Mexico during spring break and stay alive.”

Oftentimes college students don’t see Mexico as a threat or dangerous place. Since so many Americans travel there, it gives off the impression that it is in fact a safe and fun place to go. We are not invincible or bulletproof, and although it may seem like nothing bad could happen to us, it does. Although binge drinking, drowning, and reports of assault are all serious issues pertaining to spring break, Mexico poses an even more serious threat to American tourists. Spring break is supposed to be fun but remember to be careful, and if possible travel to Daytona or PCB rather than Mexico.

Laura is a sophomore studying finance. You may contact her at doncaster.4@buckeyemail.osu.edu.