War on Drugs

War on Drugs
Illicit drug trafficking has proven to be an increasing problem for the United States.   Drug trafficking is an activity that involves the importation, manufacturing, cultivation, distribution, and/or sale of illicit drugs (lawglossary, 2011).   It brings corruption to the communities subjected to it.   Neighborhoods see increased drug related crimes due to competition for drug markets and customers, disputes and robberies.   Lives are lost and children get caught doing and selling drugs at very young ages.   Illegal activities such as money laundering provide the financial fuel for drug traffickers while keeping it undetected.   Efforts have been made to reduce the flow of drugs, like the tightening of the US-Mexico border, however overall they have been unsuccessful.   The United States has increased the funding for controlling drug trade only to see illegal drug use multiply.
Our system is weaker than those it’s fighting.   Drug traffickers generate more money than drug enforcement officers do, enabling them to develop more sophisticated ways of producing, transporting, and hiding their drugs.   They have resources and funds available which the agencies created to control it cannot compete with.   The only way to eliminate the criminal aspect of drug trafficking would be to legalize the selling and possessing of drugs.   However, with the way society is today, it’s doubtful that it would ever happen, and a different approach should be taken.   Our society needs to be educated consistently and starting at younger ages. Rather than continuing the battle to control the supply of drugs, our society should focus on controlling the demand. After all, the supply of illegal drugs would not exist if there were not a demand for it.
The United States budget for drug control has increased from 9.7 billion dollars in 1990 to 17.7 billion dollars in 2000.   The Drug Enforcement Administration increased its number of agents from 3,191 in 1990 to 4,561 in 2000 (Ojeda,... [continues]

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