Pubdate: Tue, 14 Mar 2006
Source: Salt Lake Tribune (UT)
Copyright: 2006 The Salt Lake Tribune
Contact:  http://www.sltrib.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/383
Author: Jerry Brewer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

NARCOTERRORISM, VIOLENCE AND THE U.S. DRUG HABIT

It is most certainly disturbing to read with abhorrence about 
violence and death along the U.S.-Mexico border. After all, that is 
"their" problem and we must wall it out.

The fact however is that this narcoterrorism, and the voracious drug 
habits in the United States, are synonymous. The demand brings the 
supply to those who grow or manufacture, package, ship, warehouse, 
transport, sell, and buy it, which brings the violence and human 
destruction right to our easy chairs.

Yet addicts, casual users, proponents of the legalization of drugs, 
and many bystanders seem indifferent to the bloodbaths that follow 
the deliveries to consumers and users.

Of course most of us know that death and assorted mayhem exists on 
our own streets. Now worsened by the resurgence of violent street 
gangs in major metropolitan areas such as Los Angeles, Chicago, 
Washington and New York, visible reminders that we have a serious problem.

Mexican drug cartels have leveraged their profits to seize control of 
delivery routes from Colombian producers, whereas the Colombian 
cartels still control most of the production of cocaine. But again, 
the more profitable part of the trade in transporting drugs of mass 
destruction and distribution to the United States is now controlled 
by ruthless Mexican druglords.

More than $26 billion is spent in the United States each year for a 
myriad of drug stimulants according to one's preference. A staggering 
fact is that more than $160 billion is attributed to U.S. economic 
losses each year. These costs are due to health care, violent crime 
and lost productivity, among others.

We complain about massive expenditures in defending democracy 
throughout the world, but so many rationalize the spending of 
billions of hard-earned dollars for recreational drugs. The irony is 
in the massive amounts of money that many in the United States want 
to spend to fence out the elements that supply the demand. This while 
sophisticated and well-armed traffickers have land, sea, air and even 
subterranean conveyance modes at their disposal.

What about the frequent defense of those who favor decriminalization 
and legalization of drug possession and use? Those who favor this 
agenda keep U.S. drug policy under attack. We hear about saving money 
from enforcement and incarceration responsibilities, as well as 
taxing drug sales to fund other programs. This as many simplistically 
believe that the savings will solve the problem of drugs and save us 
from ourselves.

Proponents of legalization feel that the money saved is better in our 
hands than in the hands of the druglords. Further, they estimate the 
savings would be a $37 billion figure. And they cite alcohol and 
tobacco as the major problem.

The fact is we are making progress in the fight against illegal 
drugs, and this is not the time to abandon the efforts. This nation 
may need a lot of things, but what we do not need are more substance 
abusers and increases in addiction levels.

Moreover, increased social costs alone from legalization would devour 
the savings proponents' claim.

Contrary to popular belief, decriminalized drug programs have been 
failures in the United States and elsewhere, often times with adverse 
affects on low-income communities. In 1999 alone more than 200,000 
Americans entered substance abuse treatment, primarily for marijuana 
use and dependence.

Voters in Arizona, Ohio and Nevada were given opportunities to 
legalize drugs, but all three states defeated the initiatives by a 61 
percent average. In Alaska, in 1975, citizens could legally possess 
marijuana however later they again opted for its criminalization.

The Netherlands, Portugal and Switzerland continue to struggle with 
permissive drug laws. The New York Times reported similar problems in 
Britain, describing communities that have been completely changed due 
to lax drug laws.

History shows that drug trafficking in Mexico began in response to 
the demand for opium in the United States. As much as 90 percent of 
the cocaine sold in the United States in 2004 was smuggled through 
Mexico, which too is the No. 2 supplier of heroin for the United 
States. Mexico is the largest foreign source for marijuana, and the 
biggest producer of methamphetamine.

Safety and security on our streets, protection from transnational 
gangsters with arsenals of illegal arms, sophisticated weapons, 
homemade explosives and no compunctions against using them, these 
values are in jeopardy due to illegal drug use. Not just along the 
border but throughout the United States - because of an insatiable 
appetite for drugs and the profits therein reaped.

All of which will bring us much more than we bargained for unless we 
get a handle on things.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman