Latin American War On Drugs

The Modern War on Drugs In the past forty years, the United States has spent over $2.5 trillion dollars funding enforcement and prevention in the fight against drug use in America (Suddath). Despite the efforts made towards cracking down on drug smugglers, growers, and suppliers, statistics show that addiction rates have remained unchanged and the number of people using illegal drugs is increasing daily (Sledge). Regardless of attempts to stem the supply of drugs, the measure and quality of drugs goes up while the price goes down (Koebler). Now with the world’s highest incarceration rates and greatest illegal drug consumption (Sledge), the United States proves that the “war on drugs” is a war that is not being won.

The American “War on Drugs” war created to keep an exorbitant amount of people behind bars, and in a subservient status. First, America has a storied history when it comes to marijuana use. However, within the last 50 years legislation pertaining to drug use and punishment has increased significantly. In the modern era, especially hard times have hit minority communities thanks to these drug laws. While being unfairly targeted by drug laws and law enforcement, minorities in America are having a difficult time trying to be productive members of society.

American Drug War Essay Cultural Awareness CRIM103 21 Apr 2013 Danielle Walters / Ivy Tech Community College James Reed Synopsis I chose to watch a documentary called American Drug War: The Last White Hope, and do a little research on the war on drugs. The documentary I chose was very interesting. I learned several things about the war on drugs, as well as operations that have been swept under the rug. This documentary also provided some chilling statistics on deaths due to legal and illegal drugs. There were several different conspiracy theories about the government being involved in illegal drug trafficking as well.

Harsh, cruel, and unusual is an understatement to the punishments given to drug dealers for their drug related offenses. Mandatory minimum drug sentencing was arguably established to target higher level drug dealers but recently the majority of cases have been low level drug dealers. Distributing narcotics is a serious offense, but do these people who are trying to support themselves, a family, or an addiction deserve to spend close to a lifetime incarcerated?

As many African-Americans were rejoicing their long and strenuous journey, a new plan was afoot for them: the war on drugs. The war on drugs is unequivocally the biggest and most durable war this country has ever fought against its own citizens. Like any other wars the United-States has engaged in, the war on drugs is remarkably different; it was fought internally, and intended to target a specific group, people of color. Their communities, houses and churches were flooded with law enforcements, constantly checking for illegal possession of drugs. They were branded criminals and were continuously being thrown in jails or prisons, with harsh and lengthy sentences imposed on them. And once they were released, many are saddled with huge debts

In 1968, President Richard Nixon declared a “war on drugs”. This was in response to the health and law enforcement concerns that emerged in society from the exploitation of drugs. Nixon opted to cease the war on drugs, by developing policies that would slow both the supply and demand of drugs. In the 1980’s, Columbia became the United States prime focus due to their emergence of cocaine across the United States border which later leads to affect other Latin American countries. Today, the war continues despite the political advancements that both the U.S and Columbia have made.

America’s war on drugs has failed. After millions of dollars and untold man hours spent enforcing the prohibition of illegal drugs, there is little, if any, success to show for it. Illicit drugs are still available on most American street corners, drug usage rates have not decreased, and the

The Mexican drug-trafficking cartels are said to have been established in the 1980s by a man named Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo, also known as “The Godfather”. With the help of Ernesto Fonseca Carrillo and Rafael Caro Quintero, Miguel started the Guadalajara Cartel, which is one of the first to have

The US War on Drugs in Latin America Introduction The United States has a long history of intervention in the affairs of one it’s southern neighbor, Latin America. The war on drugs has been no exception. An investigation of US relations with Latin America in the period from 1820 to 1960, reveals the war on drugs to be a convenient extension of an almost 200 year-old policy. This investigation focuses on the commercial and political objectives of the US in fighting a war on drugs in Latin America. These objectives explain why the failing drug policy persisted despite its overwhelming failure to decrease drug production or trafficking. These objectives also explain why the US has recently exchanged a war on drugs for the war on

Like many other countries in Latin America and across the globe, Peru is no stranger to the economic and social impacts of illicit drug trade. However, unlike most other countries in the region like Colombia, Peru does not experience a high rate or organized crime or violence surrounding the drug trade. Although violence is minimal, the growth of cocoa and the production of cocaine is a massive industry within the country, creating an interesting dynamic between the people of Peru, those involved in the drug trade, and the Peruvian Government. The drug trade in Peru has been fueled by the geography, structure of the criminal groups involved, perceived corruption of the military and police forces, and an ineffective and overcrowded prison system.

Mexico's Drug War There is a saying in Mexico that states “Mejor vivir como un rey por cinco años que vivir como laborador por cincuenta” which translates to “better to live as a king for five years than as an Ox for fifty.” This is particularly a

The international drug trade from Latin American states is having an impact on a global scale. The trafficking of drugs along with corruptness and murder is an international conflict that is being fought daily. There are many aspects of the drug war from Mexico and other Latin American states which have effects on United States policy as well as policies from other countries that participate in the global suppression of illegal drugs.

Mexico, a state in the Latin America region has a diverse geography. The state has a population of 114 million people with most of them living in urban areas. Throughout the centuries, Mexico fought for their independence over Spain. After gaining independence they had many wars fought over land specifically

Mexico’s War on Drugs differs from many other wars since it isn’t a war between two parties but instead between the government and their own people. It is fueled by the United States’ desire for drugs, which allowed many Mexican cartels to prosper. Long before Felipe Calderon took office, the drug trade thrived without much opposition for the government. However, in 2006, Calderon mobilized troops to combat drug traffickers, thus sparking what is now known as the Mexican drug war("Mexico"). The ongoing war has had devastating consequences for both sides, with a total of 106,000 lives lost("Mexico"). Among these lives, numerous atrocities against independent reporters and children have been committed, yet the war continues to rage on. Currently,

Drugs are often considered only as a public health problem only. This could be true for the consumer countries, but on the other hand, the producers face additional struggles. The cocaine trafficking is the most important security threat in Peru because it is associated with the organized crime and terrorist groups in the country and the region. To understand the problem, I will explain how cocaine trafficking operates in Peru. Next, the essay will analyze the impact and effects that cocaine trafficking has on the country and the region. Finally, I will explain the response from the government, and how this response can be more effective.