Drake - Final Paper

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1 International Drug Trafficking Jessica Drake The University of Arizona Global Campus GEN499 – General Education Capstone Prof. Michelle McCraney 11/27/2023

2 International Drug Trafficking The world is affected by the plague of drug trafficking. Drugs have an impact on everyone in many ways, from terrorist groups who utilize them as a source of funding to individuals who use them for personal purpose and ruin their lives due to addiction. Numerous documentaries and television programs depict the devastating effects of drugs on people, including addiction, violence, and those who profit from drug trafficking while endangering others. Securing the borders of the United States against drug trafficking has been a difficult and ongoing task for many years. Globally, efforts have been made to stop the flow of medicines and to prosecute those who manufacture and deal in them. Drug lords are frequently apprehended, but not before a new one appears to profit from the money. As a result, trafficking becomes an almost never-ending loop against an illicit sector that generates billions of dollars a year. International drug trafficking negatively impacts society by harming the environment, destroying economies, affecting healthcare systems, and crime rates. The fight against drug abuse and drug trafficking must go on, and border security protocols must be reinforced, which will require more government funding. History of Drug Trade To better understand the impacts of drug trafficking, it is imperative to understand where and when it all began. Illicit and narcotic drugs have been present in China for centuries, with China being the first to control drug distribution. The English East India Company produced and exported opium from China and India in the 1700s (n.d.). However, the Chinese banned opium trade and destroyed foreign products, leading to the "Opium Wars" from 1839 to 1860. According to the National Army Museum (n.d.) the First China War, also known as the First Opium War, was a trade dispute between Britain and Imperial China in the 19th century. British

3 merchants were illegally importing Indian opium into China, demanding payment in silver. This led to millions of addicts across China, largely sustained by illegal British imports. The Chinese wanted to stop these imports to address social concerns and erode trading advantages. In May 1839, the Chinese forced the British Chief Superintendent of Trade in China, Charles Elliott, to hand over opium stocks for destruction. The British captured forts on Chuenpi and Taikoktow, Canton, Amoy, Chinhai, Ningpo, Chapu, and Chinkiang. The war ended on 17 August 1842, and the British won each part of the war, and opium trade was made legal through treaties. Tariffs allowed for legal opium trade, but societal issues began. Illegal opium trade in southern China led to gangs, piracy, and violence due to financial income (n.d.). Rasmussen (2011) highlights the significant role of poppy in the drug trade during World War I and II, where drugs were used to treat wounded individuals, leading to the emergence of addiction and the introduction of amphetamines. Amphetamines were also introduced during World War II, and the world leadership saw drugs as a pandemic that needed to be governed. And in 1943, the Army's Supply Service introduced 5mg Benzedrine sulfate "pep pills" to individual soldiers, with no questions or restrictions on their use. This continued until the Korean conflict in 1945, when the American military continued to buy amphetamine tablets. Benzedrine was believed to cause individuals to feel on top of things, leading to mistakes in combat. By the end of the war, researchers concluded that enough Benzedrine could impair judgment and that mistakes in combat were caused by anxiety rather than fatigue. Some military men used the drug to raise morale and counteract behavioral deficiencies related to fear in combat. Synthetic drugs, including LSD and Fentanyl, have surged in popularity in the past century. Opioids are grown and exported from Afghanistan, both legally and illegally, funding the Afghan government and terrorist organizations like Al-Qaeda. This illegal trafficking

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4 exploits societal issues for its gain (Greenfield et al., 2021). Afghanistan has dominated global illegal cultivation for the past two decades, becoming the world's leading supplier by 1999. However, weak governance and limited legal economic opportunities have allowed illegal cultivation to continue. In 2000-2001, the Taliban-led government instituted a ban on cultivation, causing a 95% drop in production. Despite efforts to curb production, cultivation resumed after the Taliban fell from power. Afghanistan's central government struggles to maintain control and control over the country (Greenfield et al., 2021). The chart below shows the opium cultivation in Afghanistan in comparison to other countries around the world. Drug trafficking, a form of illegal activity exploiting social issues, gained prominence in Mexico under President Felipe Calderon's war on drugs in late 2006, highlighting the link between drugs and violence. In order to defend their drug production and trafficking operations, cartel violence increased, resulting in savage acts against local government officials and people

5 (Trevino, & Genna, 2017). Since it is the main source of financial revenue in many areas, this is what leads to the violence. Economic Impacts of Drug Trafficking Drugs have a big economic influence on the community's, people, and tax revenue in The United States. The drug trade removes people from society where they may be useful by causing deaths, sicknesses, and jail. According to a 2010 Department of Justice estimate, about 620,000 persons were incarcerated for offenses involving drugs, which meant that 620,000 of them were no longer employed or contributing to the economy. Drug users put their lives in danger, many of which end up dead. These problems impact not only the economy and productivity but also the legal, healthcare, and environmental systems. To keep narcotics at bay, organizations like the DEA, Border Patrol, and Interpol are entrusted with lowering drug production and trafficking. Drug trafficking and associated social issues that the drug trade target can be reduced with ongoing funding, drug reduction, and enforcement initiatives. Additionally, globalization has significantly impacted organized crime, making the international narcotics traffic a worldwide enterprise. With about thirteen million Americans still purchasing a gram of cocaine, an ecstasy, or a quarter ounce of marijuana, the United States continues to be the single greatest market for illegal narcotics. Between five and six million people who are part of a hard-core group have more severe drug habits and spend about $60 billion annually on drugs. According to experts, at least 1% of people spend $200 a year on illegal substances, which works out to $16 million a week or $832 million annually in New York City alone. The pharma industry continues to operate because of its enormous profit margins; estimates of the amount of money transferred south annually range from $10 to $30 billion (Zill & Bergman, n.d.). This is money that is not

6 put back into the economy through the purchase of goods and services, negatively impacting the flow of money within the United States. For Mexican traffickers along the Southwest border, the money is literally driven across the border in bulk amounts and then deposited into Mexican banks. For Colombians, the process is more complicated due to currency controls and the fact that Colombia can only be reached by sea or air. When the drug money ultimately makes its way into the foreign economy, it is used to pay the salaries of shippers and processors, as well as the bribes that supplement the incomes of government officials on both sides of the border. Large-scale drug organizations, such as the Cali cartel in Colombia or the Mexican Arellano Felix brothers, resemble corporate organizations with division of labor and huge cash reserves designed to keep their operations moving smoothly (Zill & Bergman, n.d.). Additional government funding would allow cities, states, and government agencies to focus on shutting down large scale drug organizations within the US. More resources means the ability to hire additional staff focused on gaining intel, and ultimately lead to the dismemberment of the drug organizations. Drug Trafficking Effects on Healthcare Drug usage is on the rise, which has an impact on health care systems by contributing to drug overdoses, violence, and more. The ongoing drug epidemic in the United States has led to a rise in drug overdose deaths, reducing overall life expectancy. Nationally, drug overdose death rates increased from 6.1 deaths per 100,000 population in 1999 to 21.7 deaths per 100,000 population in 2017. Despite a slight decline to 20.7 deaths per 100,000 in 2018(Seltzer, 2020). The price of health care and the rise in medications needed to treat these people further effects. The Department of Justice is still monitoring the effects of pharmaceuticals on the healthcare system. Between 2003 and 2007, cocaine was the main substance that sent users to hospitals

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7 almost annually (DoJ, 2010). According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC, 2019), over 700,000 drug-related deaths occurred in 2017, making it the year with the greatest death rate to date. Overdoses or narcotics laced with fentanyl, a highly potent synthetic that intensifies the effects of cocaine, are responsible for a large number of these deaths. In order to prevent abuse and lower the risk of overdoses, hospitals have been forced to modify their prescription practices for opioids. Non-fatal overdoses have led to 98.1 hospitalizations out of 100,000 individuals, freeing up hospital beds for non-fatal emergencies. The opioid crisis seems to be easing with new prescription policies implemented in 2018, but widespread use of illegal narcotics remains. The gradual decrease in usage is aided by systems that prohibit opioids, which have helped to reduce the number of hospitalizations. However, hospitalizations due to drug usage negatively impacts hospitals, as they need more staffing to meet the needs of citizens. Unfortunately, there is a large need for medical workers, and not enough individuals are going into the field. Resulting in lengthy delays for those individuals who are seeking medical attention for non-drug related reasons. Additional government funding can positively impact health care organizations. The funding could be used to provide financial relief to drug users who want to check themselves into rehab, as well as provide funding to health care organizations so they can increase the amount of rehab facilities and hire and train staffing needed at each facility. Illegal drugs, such as heroin, marijuana, ketamine, and cocaine, have shown therapeutic benefits in randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews. According to Andreae et al. (2017), marijuana is found to be equally or more effective for HIV-related chronic neuropathic pain than conventionally prescribed alternatives like gabapentin. Ketamine is effective as an adjuvant therapy in the prevention and treatment of acute and chronic pain and may also have therapeutic use for major depression. Ibogaine and other serotonergic hallucinogens may act as

8 addiction interrupters, anti-depressive, and even anti-HIV medication. Heroin is widely prescribed in the British National Health Service for pain associated with both acute and chronic conditions, even in children and women in labor. Ecstasy and LSD may have therapeutic benefits for a wide range of conditions, including trauma, depression, and other psychological disorders. Cocaine is routinely used in anesthesiology and ophthalmology. The Cochrane Collaboration is studying the medical use of marijuana for reducing morbidity and mortality in patients with HIV/AIDS. Ethical considerations surrounding controlled drug research are complex and multifaceted. Factors such as attitudes towards substances like marijuana, ketamine, and heroin can hinder the study of these drugs. Other barriers to research include fear of legal prosecution, skepticism about the efficacy of agents with no currently accepted medical use in treatment, and suspicion among Institutional Review Board (IRB) members. Policy makers need to consider all the harms and benefits that may result from any regulation that limits access to and research on specific drugs, raising concerns about justice. Drug Trafficking Impacts on Crime and Violence Drug trafficking is a serious worldwide problem that has exacerbated societal problems and raised the rate of violence. Drug territories and cartels are defending their products in Mexico and along the southern border with the United States, which have turned into drug war zones. The DEA, Border Patrol, and other law enforcement agencies are battling this pandemic. Narcotics have impacted justice systems, with over 10% of all arrests in 2008 being attributable to narcotics (DoJ, 2010). Over half of the U.S. convicts have prior drug convictions. Drugs have a variety of effects on people, including reducing productivity, increasing crime, and controlling societal concerns. The International Police Organization (INTERPOL) offers training to combat

9 large-scale drug trafficking and aids nations throughout the world in preventing drug-related crimes. In the battle against illegal drugs, special operations forces (SOF) are also involved. Their primary objectives are to identify, stop, disrupt, and minimize drug activities. The money made from the selling of drugs can be used to buy supplies, tools, instruction, or even to buy off officials and attract supporters. For this reason, SOF is a vital component of the counternarcotics squad since drugs are a source of finance for terrorist groups, gangs, and cartels (n.d.). Environmental Impacts due to Drugs Drug manufacture and cultivation are two ways that drug trafficking harms the environment. In 2009, 980 children were reported to the El Paso Intelligence Center (EPIC) as being present or affected by methamphetamine laboratories, with eight injured and two killed (DoJ, 2010). Because the chemicals employed in synthetic pharmaceuticals might result in toxic gasses and explosions due to a lack of knowledge about chemical reactions, the laboratories and land utilized for drug synthesis have a substantial influence on the environment. Utilizing natural water resources and limiting access to water for other farms and inhabitants are two other ways that illegal cannabis production has an impact on the environment. Growing cannabis illegally affects ecosystems and accelerates erosion. The medications that are most harmful to human health are those made chemically. Conclusion Drug trafficking and manufacturing is a global issue that causes environmental damage, violent crimes, healthcare burdens, and economic impacts. Countries like the US use tactics to apprehend traffickers, such as driving past checkpoints and crossing borders. Increased funding for these initiatives could help reduce drug smuggling into the US and other countries. The Biden-Harris Administration (2023) has reiterated President Biden's urgent call for Congress to

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10 provide critical resources to strengthen addiction treatment and combat drug trafficking. Over 48 million Americans had a substance use disorder in 2022, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), and three out of every four did not receive treatment. The country is currently dealing with an unparalleled epidemic that calls for full support and financing from Congress, notwithstanding historic advancements in increasing access to public health services and halting the flow of illicit substances. The White House has demanded more than $1.2 billion to combat drug trafficking and $1.55 billion to improve overdose prevention strategies, addiction treatment, and recovery support programs. One of the four pillars of President Biden's nonpartisan Unity Agenda, which focuses on topics where Americans of all stripes can work together to advance, is addressing the opioid epidemic. However, this could lead to more bloodshed and alternative methods of smuggling drugs into already at-risk nations. There are current laws and border security prevent drug-smuggling methods, but traffickers continue to use technology and creative methods to bypass checks, exacerbating social problems. To address this issue, not only is additional funding needs, but additionally there needs to be additional efforts to reduce drug use and trafficking, and border security measures should be strengthened.

11 References Andreae, M. H., Rhodes, E., Bourgoise, T., Carter, G. M., White, R. S., Indyk, D., Sacks, H., & Rhodes, R. (2017, April 1). An ethical exploration of barriers to research on controlled drugs . The American journal of bioethics : AJOB. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4849133/ Center for Disease Control. (2019). Annual Surveillance Report of Drug-Related Risks and Outcomes. Retrieved on March 20 2020 from https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/pdf/pubs/2019-cdc-drug-surveillance-report.pdf Department of Justice. (February, 2010). Impact of Drugs on Society. Retrieved from https://www.justice.gov/archive/ndic/pubs38/38661/drugImpact.htm Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. (n.d.). History of drug control . Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/drug-use/History-of-drug-control First China War . National Army Museum. (n.d.). https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/first-china- war-1839-1842 Greenfield, V. A., Pardo, B., & Taylor, J. (2021, July). Afghanistan in the era of Fentanyl - Rand Corporation . RAND Coporation. https://doi.org/10.7249/PEA1088-1 Our role in fighting drug trafficking . INTERPOL. (n.d.). https://www.interpol.int/en/Crimes/Drug-trafficking/Our-role-in-fighting-drug- trafficking#:~:text=We%20provide%20operational%20support%2C%20analysis,a %20united%20and%20coordinated%20way

12 Rasmussen, N. (2011). Medical Science and the Military: The Allies’ Use of Amphetamine during World War II. The Journal of Interdisciplinary History, 42 (2), 205-233. https://doi.org/10.1162/JINH_a_00212 Seltzer, N. (2020, October 17). The economic underpinnings of the drug epidemic . SSM - population health. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7725949/ The United States Government. (2023, November 13). Biden-Harris Administration reiterates urgent call for Congress to help strengthen addiction treatment, crack down on drug trafficking as HHS releases new data on substance use disorder . The White House. https://www.whitehouse.gov/ondcp/briefing-room/2023/11/13/biden-harris-administration- reiterates-urgent-call-for-congress-to-help-strengthen-addiction-treatment-crack-down-on- drug-trafficking-as-hhs-releases-new-data-on-substance-use-disorder/#:~:text= %E2%80%9CToday’s%20data%20reinforces%20the%20urgency,on%20illicit%20drug %20trafficking%2C%E2%80%9D%20said Trevino, K. E., & Genna, G. M. (2017). The Unexpected Effects of Criminal Violence along the Mexicao-Texas Border. Geopolitics, 22 (4), 934-957. https://doi.org/10.1080/14650045.2017.1299133 Zill, O., & Bergman, L. (n.d.). Special reports - do the math - why the illegal business is Thriving | Drug Wars | Frontline . PBS. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/drugs/special/math.html

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