Illegal Drugs, Part I

[grace]

One of the many negative stories coming out in 2008 was the escalation of violence in Mexico between the various Drug Cartels and against Mexican Law Enforcement Agencies.

 

Hundreds of people have been killed; traffickers, police, and innocent victims. Sometimes the perpetrators even have their acts of torture and murder posted briefly to You Tube. This horrific violence is threatening the very fabric of Mexican society.

 

Those problems have now spilled over into the United States. In addition to being the greatest consumers of the illegal drugs, the United States is seeing more and more of the violence.

 

Recently in an apartment outside of Birmingham, Alabama, five men were found tortured and murdered. In Phoenix, Arizona, a man was found killed in a nice neighborhood by a team of assassins posing as Phoenix police officers. The National Drug Threat Assessment 2009, issued recently by the United States Department of Justice, states that "Mexican DTO's [drug trafficking organizations] represent the greatest organized crime threat to the United States."

 

About 90% of the cocaine in the US is smuggled in by these Mexican drug cartels; in addition they are major suppliers of other illegal drugs like methamphetamine, heroin, and marijuana.

 

According to the DOJ's report, these cartels operate in every major city in the US, and also in many rural areas. It should come to no surprise that Portland makes the list. But many may be shocked to learn that Salem, Eugene, Medford, and even small Roseberg, Oregon, with a population of approximately 22,000, have the cartels operating in them.

 

Federal officials state that Mexican smugglers have taken over virtually all the street-level distribution in the United States. This multibillion-dollar business is well organized and extremely profitable because the drugs are illegal. Would there be the violence if the drugs were legal and inexpensive? The term War on Drugs was coined by President Richard Nixon in 1971, reputedly based upon the term War on Poverty which was used by President Lyndon Johnson in 1964.

 

The "War on Drugs" is a campaign undertaken by the United States government to curb supply and diminish demand for specific psychoactive substances deemed immoral, harmful or undesirable. It included a set of laws and policies that are intended to discourage the production, distribution, and consumption of the targeted substances.

 

The War on Drugs is supported by a substantial television propaganda effort, including anti-drug advertising spots from such organizations as the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, among others.

 

Writers and producers of popular, prime-time television shows have also reportedly been paid directly to write-in government approved anti-drug messages, themes, and occasionally entire episodes.

 

Just what is the history of illegal drug use, what are the real costs, and how successful has the War on Drugs been will be covered in coming articles.

 

Author: Dorsett Bennett for

Date: 14 January 2009

Source: Salem-News.com

Copyright: 2008 Salem-News.com

http://www.salem-news.com/articles/january...ugs_1-14-09.php