Drug Trafficking Crisis
During high school many American teens experiment with illegal drugs. According to data collected by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 42% of high school seniors have tried marijuana on at least one occasion (Marijuana). Despite all of the harmful effects associated with marijuana use, such as low academic performance and memory impairment, America’s youth continues to place a high demand on marijuana and other prohibited drugs. This demand can only be obtained through black markets and illegal drug trafficking.
Drug trafficking in the United States negatively impacts our society. Not only do drug dealers bring illegal substances into our cities and communities, but drug trafficking has also caused an increase in drug related crimes. In 2006, the National Institute on Drug Abuse reported that 60 to 80 percent of prisoners within the U.S. criminal justice system were arrested on drug related offenses (Volkow 2). Drugs are 65 percent more likely to be smuggled through the southwestern border of the United States than any other border (Darity 450). Before these drugs reach Mexico, drug traffickers play a key role in bringing these drugs into the U.S. market. Drug traffickers are often responsible for the cultivation and harvesting of narcotics and their shipment from drug producing countries. This has led to the establishment of international criminal organizations which organize their law-breaking activities at the expense of political stability in drug-producing nations. In order for drug dealers to stay in business, they resort to violence and other criminal actions to intimidate their opponents and expand their market. In response to the increase of drug related crime, federal drug enforcement agencies have cooperated with foreign governments to fight against drug distribution and international drug smuggling. In 2005, many of these smuggling routes became known to the U.S. agencies, in result to cracking down many drug cases and a decline in crime and violence took into action (Trafficking of Drugs).
As use of the drugs increased, so did the number of arrests and so did the surrounding controversy. In the past, in order for the United States to avoid many violent crimes, the U.S government has adopted formal drug decriminalization polices to help reduce the large amount of crime being committed (Organized Crime). For example, in Seattle, Washington, drug decriminalization reduced crimes associated with drugs. One of the primary reasons for this reduction was decreased competition among black-market sellers, who typically spend violent measures to protect their drug dealing territory (Darity 450). According to the Fourth Amendment, it is in favor that any crime that is committed without victims would be repealed, such as the use of medical drugs or recreational purposes (Platform Libertarian Party). As a result, the National High School Senior Survey shows that daily marijuana use had been increasing progressively among high school students (Kranzler and Korsmeyer).
With this in mind, there are many solutions that can be placed in order to decrease the drug trafficking in the United States. One solution would be to place more security around the southwestern borders of the U.S. This area is the most know area for drugs to pass though our U.S. borders. Placing high security in this area would help decrease the amount drugs that are shipped through trucks when crossing the borders (US Border Patrol Seeking New Agents). Also, placing guards in the area could also help discover new tunnels that drug trafficker dig underground to reach the U.S. without going through U.S. securities. The next solution would be to communicate with international counties that are willing work with the U.S. to crack down these drug traffickers. This could cause a nationwide crisis to help the development of stopping shipped drugs from reaching cities all over the world.
In conclusion, drug trafficking negatively affects our country, and there needs to be ways to stop them from entering into the U.S. Although placing decimalizing policies help decrease the number of drug related crime, drugs that are being sold on the streets is still left alone. This will just cause a much more major problem because this means that everybody could easily have possession of drugs at anytime. By placing more security along the southwestern border of the United States, this could help track down many drugs that are trying to reach into the U.S. Working together with international countries to help stop drug traffickers is another solution. This will give the advantages to every country because many countries are working together to spot drugs that are reaching many counties, but will countries take advantage of this action? Or will it just cause a disaster?
Works Cited
"Drug Traffic." International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences. Ed. William Darity, Jr. 2nd ed. Vol. 2. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2008. 450-452. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 17 Nov. 2010.
"Internet Drug Trafficking/Illegal Pharmacies." The Encyclopedia of Drug Abuse. New York: Facts on File, 2008. 169-172. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 17 Nov. 2010.
"Platform | Libertarian Party." Libertarian Party | Maximum Freedom, Minimum Government. Web. 18 Nov. 2010. <http://www.lp.org/platform>.
"Marijuana." The Encyclopedia of Drug Abuse. New York: Facts on File, 2008. 184-193. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 17 Nov. 2010.
"National Commission on Marihuana and Drug Abuse: Recommendations on Decriminalization." Encyclopedia of Drugs, Alcohol & Addictive Behavior. Ed. Henry Kranzler and Pamela Korsmeyer. 3rd ed. Vol. 3. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2009. 103-105. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 18 Nov. 2010.
"Organized Crime." The Encyclopedia of Drug Abuse. New York: Facts on File, 2008. 220-223. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 18 Nov. 2010.
"Trafficking of Drugs." The Encyclopedia of Drug Abuse. New York: Facts on File, 2008. 266-267. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 17 Nov. 2010.
Volkow, Nora D. "Research network tests drug abuse treatment following incarceration.(DIRECTOR'S PERSPECTIVE)(Pamphlet)(Report)." Pamphlet by: National Institute on Drug Abuse. Vol. 20. National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2006. 2. Academic OneFile. Web. 18 Nov. 2010.
"US Border Patrol Seeking New Agents." PR Newswire 24 Aug. 2010. General OneFile. Web. 19 Nov. 2010.
