There is no denying that we have a drug problem, both globally and in the U.S. Actively seeking a solution to this problem is another matter altogether.
According to Time, the number of heroin users has increased substantially from 2007 to 2012, and the number of deaths has risen as well, with a 45 percent increase from 2006 to 2010. This increase has been attributed to rising levels of drug cartel activity in the U.S. as well as the lower cost of drugs provided by Latin American groups.
Whether you agree with the Drug Enforcement Administration’s role in enforcing regulations on drug-related activities or you believe drug use simply qualifies as free will, drug activity affects everyone.
Most people believe that cartel activity is largely concentrated at the border between Mexico and U.S., and they are right. But cartel activity has expanded to more than 1,000 U.S. cities, some located far north of the border. Oregon, for example, has become a hotbed of cartel activity because cartel members believe the rural atmosphere to be effective in helping them to fly under the radar.
@wcnc Hmmmmmmm....Who beheads folks - Mexican ILLEGAL cartel and ISIS.
— John Hancock (@CaptAmerica1787) July 27, 2015
Although the cartel hopes to avoid confrontation with law enforcement officials, cartel-related violence still occurs regularly. It is thought that these cartel members are introducing the U.S. to a new kind of uninhibited violence, with cases of homicide popping up nationwide.
“The men and women involved in today’s (drug trafficking) kill or make other drug traffickers disappear without fear of consequence. I have personally investigated homicides and violent incidents directly related to DTO’s and have seen the destruction they have caused to families in our community," Oregon’s Marion County Sheriff’s Office explained to Fox News Latino.
Considering that this problem is escalating on U.S. soil, it must take precedence in reforming policy. Though billions are spent on enforcing drug laws in the U.S., the problem only seems to escalate. This “Drug Debate,” which largely consists of those who believe that a zero-tolerance approach should be taken and those who believe the decriminalization of drug use would be effective, needs to be addressed.
Some would argue that there are other, more important global issues affecting the safety of the U.S. currently, such as the terrorism experienced at the hands of the Islamic State group. Yes, the terrorist acts occur on U.S. soil, and yes, they result in the harm of U.S. citizens, but we are not alone in that fight.
In fact, the Mexican cartel has been confronted by ISIS. The terrorist group vowed to wage war with Mexico. Mexican cartel drug leader, Joaquín Guzmán Loera, known as El Chapo, had a different response from other countries receiving similar threats. He essentially told them, in very colorful language, that the crimes committed in Mexico are far too severe for them to fear ISIS’s tactics. He claimed that, if any interference in the drug trade were to occur, his men would inflict “true terror” upon them. Many citizens of Mexico even took to social media, making a joke of the threats.
Considering the fact these large global issues have intersected should provide the U.S. with even more reason to reach a solution, and the general population should be included in this process.
The public deserves to know about these crimes and their implications. The film and television industry has even taken this problem to the screen, informing the public of the severity of the issue. The movie "Sicario" features a federal agent sent to Mexico with a hit man to stem the flow of drugs from the source while "Narcos", a Netflix original series, addresses the rise and fall of Pablo Escobar’s drug empire in Colombia.
With increasing relevance and importance to the U.S., the public needs to be informed of the consequences of this drug problem while the U.S. as a whole needs to seek a solution, making it their top priority.
Related Links:
Arizona television stations to broadcast Cronkite documentary investigating heroin use
Drug trafficking documentary 'Es El Chapo?' questions government integrity
Reach the columnist at ghirneis@asu.edu or follow @ghirneise2 on Twitter.
Editor’s note: The opinions presented in this column are the author’s and do not imply any endorsement from The State Press or its editors.
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