DrugTrafficking

=Humanities Assassin On the Go Drug Trafficking Around the World  = Introduction:

Drug trafficking typically refers to the possession of an illegal drug in a predetermined quantity that constitutes the drug is going to be sold. The severity of the crime depends on the specific drug, the state and the quantity.(Gould)
 * What is Drug Trafficking? **

//Cocaine-// Cocaine is a powerful stimulant that is very addictive and affects the brain of anyone who uses it. It is grown and manufactured in South America from the cocoa leaves. It has been abused as a narcotic drug for over 100 years. // Cannabis/Marijuana- // Marijuana, a mixture of leaves, seeds, stems, and flowers from the Cannabis sativa, is the most common illegal drug used in the world. Although it is an addictive drugs, the damages to the brain come later in life. // Methamphetamine/Crystal Meth // - It damages the central nervous system of the human body, because it is such a dangerously addictive drug and can cause serious brain damage as well for the people around the user.
 * What are the main drugs trafficked? **

// Opium/Heroin- // This highly addictive drug is made from morphine, a potent substance from the seed pop of a poppy plant. It is one of the most dangerous drugs because it can be the most addictive drug because it is commonly used with crack or cocaine. // Ecstasy/MDMA- // “A terrible drug that is synthetic and psychoactive dedicated to creating a hallucinogenic fervor. Acting as a stimuli and psychedelic Ecstasy creates an energy effect and creates distortions in reality, time and perception of the taker and ultimately creates a seemingly joyful experience. ” (“list”) Proof: media type="youtube" key="_91MFg8lDng" height="344" width="425" The trafficking of drugs started in the 18th century China, the drug involved was opium. Opium is a natural grown addictive substance found in opium poppies, they contain morphine which produces heroin. The opium was from various parts of Asia but was smuggled into China by the Europeans. Decreased supply of opium meant increased drug smuggling due to increased prices. All of this started because the Chinese emperor stopped opium drug trafficking into China in 1729. All of these drugs and many more are trafficked from country to country, state to state, hand to hand by drug cartels. The drug cartels use ships, trains, planes, and people to smuggle these drugs into other countries. (“Drug”) Causes: media type="youtube" key="SUCiCyaM17I" height="340" width="560"

People who use illegal drugs, typically do so because they like what the drugs do to their brains. For many people, the reason for first-time of use will simply be because the drug is available to them at that moment in time, and generally out of curiosity. All drugs of abuse cause a series of momentary changes in the brain that produce the "high." One of these changes is the rise in obtainable levels of dopamine, a certain neurotransmitter associated with feelings of pleasure. Drugs abuse boosts dopamine levels. When a person takes a hit of crack cocaine or heroin, the drugs cause a spike in dopamine levels in the brain, and a rush of exhilaration or enjoyment accurse.

International organized crime groups take advantage of sophisticated global transportation and communications links to funnel illegal drugs into the United States(Cilluffo). They have increasingly demonstrated both innovation and technological complexity in conducting their drug smuggling activities. Their brutality, financial strength, and crave for power, formulates them as a powerful threat to society(Cilluffo). They threaten and sometimes resort to violence against law enforcement officers and people working and living in drug producing or transit countries. Drug-related crime, violence, corruption, and social decay threatens national and even local stability. ^ (Gaian ) Effects: “It is the most serious organized crime in the world, with many effects on people in all aspects of life.” (“Abuse”).

ECONOMY Drug Trafficking affects the economy in every country it travels through, made or grown in, and bought in, seeing as everything in this day and age costs money Annual worldwide illegal drug sales are greater than the GDP of 88 percent of the countries in the world. In North America alone, there was a 30 billion dollar profit in drugs this past year, with thanks to the Mexican Cartels ( Perrot-Lanaud). “This world-wide issue has caused a governmental economic crisis in many countries, including Mexico, Thailand, Brazil, and Japan.” (Perrot-Lanaud). For example in Brazil, they have been putting this problem off for so long, that the middle class is starting to get smaller and smaller because the people either make a ton of money of the business and move to upper class, or they go broke and move to lower class (Caron).

SECURITY Security is also being pushed to its limits during this world-wide drug war. Major drug producing countries such as, Afghanistan, Colombia, and Myanmar are causing outbursts of violence in West Africa, Central Asia, Central America, and the Caribbean (“As”). The majority of the countries that are being affected, are too poor and weak to fight to stop this problem in their country alone, so they try to get help from major powers and organization, but it is still hard seeing as there is a lot of violence from drug related issues ( Niklas). For example, in Brazil, the government doesn’t have enough money to pay the police forces extra so it is very common for drug dealers to pay them off so they will not say anything to the government (Caron). CHILDREN Drug traffickers have stooped pretty low when you start to see warnings being sent home to parents in Texas telling them that there is a risk that Mexican Cartels will try to approach your child and try to convince them to help smuggle illegal drugs.("deal")

Solutions: “Relying solely on drug-fighting efforts abroad, the government would have to spend $783 million more a year to reduce cocaine consumption by 1 percent; relying on interdiction, it would have to spend $366 million more, and on domestic law enforcement, $246 million. Relying solely on treatment, however, the government would have to spend only $34 million more to achieve that 1 percent reduction. In other words [according to a 1994 RAND study], treatment was seven times more cost-effective than local law enforcement, ten times more effective than interdiction, and twenty-three times more effective than attacking drugs at their source.” (“Trafficking”)Some countries are taking charge and creating laws against drugs and catching the people who break those laws. One person who has made an effort is President Obama. Obama approved $700 million to increase security and boost crime fighting efforts on the Mexican and United States border. If we can get more countries to work together the problem of drug trafficking can be decreased greatly.("drug")

Future: “Cary MacRae looks into the roles that Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Russia play in sustaining the Afghan drug trade. She argues that these areas are a major route for drug trafficking, and that the future of each region is heavily reliant on the success or failure of anti-narcotics efforts over the next decade. She cites rising levels of HIV and addiction rates as proof that the situation is deteriorating. MacRae also argues that the future of Afghanistan is contingent on anti-narcotic policies in the greater region, and that regional cooperation against drug trafficking must be achieved despite the many obstacles that stand in the way. She warns that if the poor economic conditions and governmental repression in Central Asia are not alleviated, the region could become a hotbed for Islamic extremists and a safe-haven for terrorists. “ (Finn)


 * Works Cited:**

Abadinsky, Howard. "drug trafficking." //Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia//. 2010. Grolier Online. 25 Jan. 2010 <[].> “As drug trafficking undermines peace and security, UN calls for global measures". UN. January 21,2010 . Black, Maureen . "Drug Use and Drug Trafficking". pediatrics. february 13,2010 . Caron, Arielle. "The Effect of Drug Trafficking on the Development of Brazil". UPIU. January 18, 2010 [].

Cilluffo, Frank. "The Threat Posed from the Convergence of Organized Crime, Drug Trafficking, and Terrorism". CSIS. February 11, 2010 .

"Cocaine". think quest. org. February 18,2010 .

"DARE". DARE. January 20,2010 [].

“The deal on substances". Teen Health. January 21,2010 [].

“Drug Abuse, Drug Trafficking, & Organized Crime". drug library. January 15, 2010 < []>__//

"Drug Trafficking." Global Issues in Context Online Collection __.__   Detroit:   Gale,   2009. Global Issues In Context__. Gale. Tallwood High School. 20 Jan. 2010. . __ __"Drug Trafficking | Introduction". enotes.com. Febuary 13,2009__ [] __"Gaian Economics ". february 19, 2010 <http://gaianeconomics.blogspot.com/2008_10_01_archive.html>.

Gould, Laurence. "Definition of Drug Trafficking". ehow.com. february 13,2010 <http://www.ehow.com/facts_5502172_definition-drug-trafficking.html>.__

__"List of Illegal Drugs". effectsofdrugs.info. february 13,2010 <http://www.effectsofdrugs.info/2007/11/12/list-of-illegal-drugs/>. Niklas Pollard, Reuters. "UN report puts world's illicit drug trade at estimated $321b". boston.com. January 21,2010 <__[|http://www.boston.com/news/world/europe/articles/2005/06/30/un_report_puts_worlds_illicit_drug_trade_at_estimated_321b/.]__>__

"LSD". citizenarcane.com. February 18,2010 <http://www.citizenarcane.com/index.php/archives/category/politics-war/>.

__Lyons, Casey. "Growing marijuana in Douglas County, Kan. apparently not such a big deal". pitch.com. February 18,2010 <http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http:__blogs.pitch.com/plog/marijuana_leaf_pic.jpg&imgrefurl=http://blogs.pitch.com/plog/2009/12/growing_marijuana_in_douglas_county_kan_apparently_not_such_a_big_deal.php&usg=rhvAhT-YSOGqwaPZ2pEY2dmY27E=&h=1065&w=1060&sz=48&hl=en&start=38&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=8JLgl86qcq2tAM:&tbnh=150&tbnw=149&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmarijuana%2Bleaf%26start%3D36%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dactive%26sa%3DN%26ndsp%3D18%26tbs%3Disch:1>.

"Methamphetamine tied to abnormal brain development/Prenatal meth exposure may harm baby's brain". drogey.com. February 18,2010 <http://www.drogy.net/clanek/methamphetamine-tied-to-abnormal-brain-developmentprenatal-meth-exposure-may-harm-babys-brain_2009_04_22.html>.

"On Drug Trafficking". Zamora's Cartoon. February 18,2010 <http://zamoracartoons.blogspot.com/2009/01/on-drug-trafficking.html>.

Perrot-Lanaud, Monique. "The social and economic impact of drug trafficking". UNESCO. January 15, 2010 [].

“Security Council debates "devastating impact" of drug trafficking". UNODC. January 21,2010 <[].>