| | |  Editorials | July 2008 
Behind the Enemy Lines of Drug Wars
 Extra News
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| | Policemen carry the coffins of three officers killed last week in Culiacan, Sinaloa State. The officers were killed by an armed commando while they were on patrol. Six people including a police officer were killed over the weekend in central and northern Mexico, bringing to nine the law enforcement death toll in the country in 48 hours, officials said. (AFP/Marco Millan) | | |
There is a reason why they call organized crime organized. The recent events in México demonstrate a high level of activity that suggest how closely integrated and cooperative the drug trade has become. The Colombian cartel has been busy surviving and struggling to keep the route to the U.S alive which left the door wide open for any country.
According to the Drug Enforcement Agency, the cocaine market in the U.S. generated about $36.1 billion in 2004. I don’t know about you, but $36.1 billion would motivate just about anyone to get the cut in such a lucrative market.
The drug wars in Juárez, México are just a tip of the iceberg. It’s evident that the Mexican cartel is not operating single handedly in order to keep access in the most valuable market. The drug wars in México are the domino effect of the disbandment of the Colombian cartel. It’s no secret that cocaine from Colombia is transported from México to the U.S. In the past, there was a balance of how much came from México to the U.S verses other producers. So what happens when the market expands?
You get war. The shift in the market left México in the driver seat to take control of the drug distribution. In other words, more money on the table means more fighting for control. It’s evident that the current drug wars will not cease until either there is one drug lord in charge – who will be frequently replaced – or until an agreement is reached among the contestants regarding the market share.
Historically, drugs have existed since the beginning of time. Will drugs ever be eliminated? Of course not, it’s naïve to believe that drugs will be completely wiped out. As long as drugs are in demand, drug distribution will continue.
So what is a solution? If we can’t cut the supply, maybe we can minimize the demand. What we need is community-developed psychosocial education. Psychosocial education programs increase public awareness. It’s not as simple as the campaign slogan “Just say no.” There needs to be more measures to educate children at a young age to decrease the demand. The educators should keep it real, discuss the truth about drugs and introduce group mentorship.
As the age for trying substance keeps getting younger, so should the response for implementing educational programs begin accordingly. If kids are taught at an early age the truth about dependency and consequence of social use, it can play an important role in having positive outcomes in the future struggles against the drug trade. |
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