Substance Addiction In Colombia

The US Approach in Colombia As the United States is one of the largest drug consumers in the world they view drugs particularly cocaine as a threat to US national security that undermines US economy, value, and identity. With this in mind, the US uses an approach that assumes that if there is no supply then there would be no demand, contradicting the capitalist concept of supply-demand. US drug policy is divided into two groups from policies of control to policies of aid. In Colombia, the United States has been using its political and economic influence mainly through economic assistance since Andean states generally have a weak economy when compared to their counterpart. This approach tends to be overly realistic with policies following the

The earning of mass amounts of drug money has created a debate about whether the drug trade has helped or hurt the Colombian economy. Specifically, the debate centers on how narcotics have affected the economy in the short and long runs because the drug trade, in reality, has brought in millions of dollars. How this money, earned by trafficking drugs, has returned (or not returned) to the country and its population through its

“Abstinence Vs. Harm Reduction” “Drug policy regarding the control of the traditional illicit substances (opiates, cocaine, cannabis) is currently moving through upbeat times in almost all Western countries. Prohibition on the basis of repressive law enforcement not only seems to fail on a large scale, but also to create vast additional costs, problems, and harm for drug consumers, who often find themselves in extreme social, economic, and health conditions” (Fischer 1995: 389).

The U.S. Census Bureau reported in 2013 that there were approximately 54 million Hispanics in the United States. Comprising 17% of the total population, Hispanics are the largest ethnic minority in the U.S. At the current growth rate, Hispanics will make up 31% of the U.S. population with 128.8 million

One of the most detrimental and addictive narcotics in the world today is cocaine. Cocaine dates back as early as 3000 BC. Ancient Incas used the coca leaves to counter the effects of living in thin mountain air. Native Peruvians in the 1500’s chewed the plant strictly for religious ceremonies. Andean Indians are believed to chew the leaves of the coca plant to increase their energy for work while decreasing their hunger and pain. It wasn’t until 1859 when a German chemist Albert Niemann successfully extracted the narcotic from the coca leaf. In the 1880’s, it was freely prescribed by physicians for “maladies as exhaustion, depression, and morphine addiction and was available in many patent medicines” (“Cocaine”), until users and doctors began to realize its dangers and side effects. While it was not fully understood at the time, cocaine has many devastating and lasting effects on the user.

Matt Conklin Katie Blakeslee English 102 December 8, 2015 PROHIBIT-ion With addiction rates rising every year, the overwhelming drug dilemma has opened the eyes of numerous governments around the world. This paper will discuss what decriminalization is and if decriminalizing drugs in the United States will lead to lower crime rates and lower incarceration rates. In addition, it will discuss the impact decriminalization will have on society, the effect it will have on the economy and finally how it influences the now addicted, should legalization occur. Currently, Portugal has decriminalized all drugs in every drug classification for recreational use. Furthermore, Colorado is the only state in the United States, to have decriminalized marijuana. In looking at the drug laws in Portugal, Colorado, Mexico, and the Netherlands this review will examine what appears to be working and not working of both decriminalizing and keeping certain drug classifications illegal. Multiple web-based articles, books, and peer-reviewed articles were the many sources used in researching this paper. Can drug decriminalization be a practical way to cut down on drug related crimes? Will it benefit society, boost the economy, and help the addict? Based on this research I have concluded at a federal level, the United States should decriminalize

Alvaro Lopez Angela Mora English 1A 30 Sept 2014 Is Decriminalizing Drugs A Right Move? There always seems to be debate on whether the decriminalization of drugs would be of great public interest. It is a very important and controversial issue that has many people wondering if legalizing drugs would be a right move or not. In the article, “Decriminalization Would Increase The Use and The Economic and Social Costs of Drugs” by David Mineta, Mineta argues about why drugs should not be decriminalized and how keeping illicit drugs illegal outweigh the possible negative consequences of legalizing these substances. Mineta himself writes that, “Our position is simple and evidence-based: both decriminalization and legalization of illicit drugs would increase their use, along with their associated health and social costs” (Americas Quarterly). According to Mineta the decriminalization of drugs will only allow more people to become addicted causing more health and social costs because seen as they will be more widely used. (Americas Quarterly)

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.

Peru once known for its beautiful country is now known as the world's largest cocaine supplier. The American government has given millions of dollars to Peru in order to gain control over the cocaine crisis. Somehow, leaving America as the world's largest cocaine consumer. The government of Peru has reassured the country that they have control over the cocaine problem, but records indicated differently. Interviews from coca farmers and drug traffickers stated the cocaine industry is growing rapidly and no government has control over it. Furthermore, American taxpayers urge the US government to stop sending money to other countries, instead spend money on rehab facilities to help the American people overcome drug addiction.

Violence in modern Colombia takes place in many forms. The three major categories are crime, guerrilla activities, and attacks committed by drug traffickers. Violence has become so widespread and common in Colombia that many people have now become numb to it. The Colombian economy has also benefited from the illicit drug trade; however violent it may be. During the 1970s, Colombia became well known, as one of the world’s most important drug processing, production, and distribution centers for marijuana and cocaine.

Latin America has had a long history of drug use, which contributes to its stereotype as a drug infested region. Beginning in the 1970’s, the United States has been trying to eliminate drug cartels, trafficking, and use in Latin America (Bogota). The influence of drugs in Latin America has led to violence and death over the many years.

Colombia Politically, economically, and culturally, Colombia is known as “the worst humanitarian hotspot” (nationsonline.org: 2015) and it is because of its association with the drug cartels. Colombia is a northern South American country that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 when Venezuela and Ecuador also emerged. It is a mountain-like, grassy, and tropical country that possesses natural resources ranging from coal, natural gas, and emeralds. Colombia’s agriculture produces coffee, sugarcane, tobacco and many other things; and, it has industries for textiles, clothing, and chemicals. However, Colombia is known as one of “the worst humanitarian hotspots” because of its history with drugs. Colombia’s affiliation with the

In 1970’s, the Colombian poor farmers began planting Marijuana in purpose of an alternative to legal crops to survive producing. In the 1970’s the Colombian organized crime had been accelerated when criminal groups tried to cash in on the obsession for cocaine in the United States by importing coca leaf from Bolivia and Peru into cocaine hydrochloride (HCL) then trafficking it to the United States. (InSight Crime, n.d.). During the time of Pablo Escobar in 1980’s the first major cocaine cartels emerged in Medellin cartel and Cali cartel in southwest. (PBS.org, n.d.).

We know that drugs have been analyzed in the context of popular opinion. Now, let' us analyze its impact on literature. The history of drugs in Colombia since the 19th century has been marked by some changes in so many aspects. We talk about the development in social and political terms, but more importantly how the problem of drugs has been analyzed from a literature perspective. Francisco E. Thoumi, in his book, Political Economy and Illegal Drugs in Colombia affirms: "The processes of coca growing and cocaine manufacturing are well known and have been discussed in recent literature frequently” here, he sustains that the impact of drugs in Colombia has been analyzed most in recent literature works than in political

1. Pien Metaal, Drug policy in the Americas – a new set of Latin American policy proposal VOL. 12 NO. 3 2012, pp. 141-145 This article aims to give some background information about the debate around drug policies in Latin America and to provide a view on a possible