IndexIntroductionContextWhat has the United States done to solve this problem?International involvementConsequencesCurrent situationProposed solutionsConclusionIntroductionThe war on drugs has existed for decades. From rich to poor countries, no solution to the problem has been found and very few improvements have been made. Both producing and consuming countries are affected by the problem. To solve the drug problem we must find the root of the problem, which is poverty in the countries where the drugs are produced. That said, I believe the United States should offer aid and expert assistance to promote jobs and potentially help reduce or eliminate the need to sell and grow drugs. This is a problem that needs to be solved now, as data shows that over three decades drug-related deaths have increased. According to CDC statistics, in 1999 there were 16,849 drug-related deaths and in 2017 there were 70,237 drug-related deaths. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssayContextThe war on drugs has been around for a long time, and to solve this problem we need to know why it started in the first place. Columbia, which was the largest distributor of cocaine, was not initially the main producer of the coca plant. Most drugs in that period (1960s to early 1970s) came from Peru or Bolivia. The reason Columbia quickly began to own the cocaine and marijuana industry was due to the location of the country. Being on the coast of the US and Europe made shipping products easy. By the end of the decade, Columbia accounted for about 70 percent of the marijuana reaching the United States from abroad. Between 30 and 50 thousand farmers along Colombia's Caribbean coast began to depend directly on marijuana cultivation for their livelihood, while at least another 50,000 Colombians, including seasonal harvesters, transporters, guards and bankers, made a living with it. At the time marijuana and cocaine were a growing industry and Colombia not having the best economy, many people were looking for ways to bring in extra money. Since he did not have many job opportunities, this drug industry became the first option for many people. With the rapid growth of cocaine in the 1980s, it's no surprise that someone was running a cocaine empire. The Medellin Cartel has gained notoriety as the world's largest supplier of cocaine. Within that cartel, the key player was Pablo Escobar Gaviria, who was not only a talented entrepreneur but also a second-tier liberal politician, local philanthropist, and employer of squads to kill both inconvenient rivals and public employees the whose task was to enforce the laws. Pablo Escobar was already in the pharmaceutical industry in the late 1970s and knew how to sell and grow the drug. In the 1980s, the total area dedicated to coca production increased by 60% from 1983 to 1986, reaching approximately 25,000 hectares. Each hectare could produce approximately 1.6 kg of cocaine base, meaning that the total annual production in 1986 was estimated at 27 tonnes. the problem of the war on drugs. El Chapo, captured for the third time on January 8, 2016, was the most notorious drug lord at the time. Leaving his empire behind, it wasn't long before his son took command. El Chapo was born in La Tuna de Badiraguato, Sinaloa, a rural town full of poverty, violence and strife. According to Michael Vigil, a former Drug Enforcement officialAdministration of the United States, Guzman suffered physical abuse from his father. With nowhere else to go, he followed his father into the drug trade and began selling drugs independently. At the age of twenty Guzman was tasked by kingpin Hector Luis Palma Salazar to transport drugs from Sinaloa to coastal cities in the United States. He rose to the top Guzman became one of the leaders of El Cartel De Sinaloa and quickly became known to the United States government. His way of smuggling drugs has impressed many. By digging underground tunnels with ventilation and transporting drugs in the guise of other products El Chapo had very creative and clever ways to transport drugs to the U.S. Soon, in 1993, when Pablo Escobar was killed, the Mexican cartel became the first concern of the United States United. As Guzman grew in power, he also expanded his market. Guzman continued to produce cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana, and heroin, which were smuggled and distributed throughout the United States and Europe. Poverty played a role in these countries and could have been a reason why people entered the drug industry. . Both of these cartels were created with the primary purpose of obtaining money. By having money they have power. It is likely that if the economy were not so bad in these countries there would be no need to go in the direction of drugs as they would be financially stable. What has the United States done to solve this problem? The war on drugs had been around for years, and Nixon initiated the first significant federal funding of treatment programs in the United States. Treatment programs were the only option available to keep people from taking drugs until 1973. It was in 1973 that President Nixon established the Drug Enforcement Administration. This administration's job was to enforce implemented drug laws. They also brought to justice those who produce, grow and transport the drugs. The DEA was the first major administration to actually start fighting the war on drugs instead of simply offering rehabilitation. It was clear that the DEA's goal was to stop Americans from abusing drugs and to this day it is still the same goal. Another law passed by Nixon was the Controlled Substance Act. This act is a federal statute that regulates the production and distribution of controlled substances. The law classifies these drugs based on their potential for abuse, status in international treaties and any medical benefits they may have. Drugs classified as tier one are the most regulated because they have no medical value. The reason they are grouped together is to make it easier for lawmakers to pass laws against them. The DEA is the agency that has control over this law and is able to add or remove drugs from the classifications. “Our number one goal is to save American lives… the strategy builds on our current whole-of-government approach that educates Americans about the dangers of drug abuse, ensures that these people struggling with addiction get the help they need they need and it stops the flow of illegal drugs across our borders,” said ONDCP Director Jim Carrol. It's clear that the United States is focusing more on helping people who abuse the drug. If they no longer indulged in drugs, the market would collapse and the need for drugs would no longer be necessary. The problem is that many people won't listen and the demand for drugs will still be there. The United States is also trying to stop people from starting to use drugs. “Prevention messages aimed at young people are spread through social media and other platformsused by young people." “The campaign will use data analytics to determine the appropriate message.” This will be used in schools, healthcare systems, faith, social service organizations. This is another way the government has tried to prevent the use of drugs which as far as I know has been in use for years but little to no progress has been made in this way. In the official website of the ONDCP (whitehouse.gov/ondcp/) you can see that they have many statements and releases about how the United States has funded programs that prevent drug use and find new ways to prevent drugs from entering the United States. It's clear that they don't really look at the countries producing the drugs and find a way to make them stop. This is another reason why I suggest that the United States try a new method to solve this drug problem instead of funding programs that have actually had no major decrease in drug use. International Involvement Portugal, once a country struggling with heroin addiction, may have found a solution to their country's drug problem. Their solution to the problem that helped decrease the number of people using heroin was to decriminalize the use of all drugs. Prior to this, government laws were similar to those in the United States. They had harsh policies driven by the criminal justice system and were considered criminals. Seventeen years after the law was introduced, Portugal's death rate fell five times lower than that of the United States, which recorded about 64,000 deaths due to opioid drugs in 2016. In addition to the collapse in drug use, Portugal has also seen a decline in HIV cases. The HIV rate dropped from 104.2 new cases per million in 2000 to 4.2 cases per million in 2015. Portugal decided to decriminalize all drugs because it did not want to see drug users as criminals but rather as people in need of help. With the help of organizations, Portugal was able to provide clean products to cocaine and heroin addicts and get to know people better. When drugs were decriminalized, it was easier for people to get help because they didn't have to worry about the criminal penalties and stigmas that come with them. “Between 1998 and 2001, the number of people in drug treatment increased by 60%…(It's time for the United States to decriminalize drug use and possession.) Overall, when the law went in in place, changes have come slowly, but there has been an increase in people trying to get help. While this may have worked in Portugal, it is unclear whether the United States will have the same effect this article is that the United States should stop viewing drug addicts as criminals but rather as people struggling to get back on track. Consequences The United States has very strict laws and consequences when found with drugs. can be broken down into two parts. Simple possession occurs when a person is caught with a small amount of an illegal substance intended for personal use. Under federal law, being caught with simple possession is a crime that can lead to a year in prison or a fine of up to $1,000. Even being caught with drug paraphernalia such as syringes and tubes with drug residue is classified as simple possession. The second type of possession is possession with intent to distribute. This occurs when a person is found with large quantities of drugs. Penalties under the Drug Trafficking and Distribution Act are set when people comecaught transporting, selling or smuggling drugs. Drug trafficking is a crime and the penalties depend on the type of drug trafficked, where the person was caught and the amount of drugs in their possession. “Minimum federal penalties for trafficking in powder cocaine involving 500-4,999 grams range from 5 to 40 years in prison with a fine of up to $5 million. Trafficking 1-9 grams of LSD (acid), 5-49 grams of pure methamphetamine, 50-499 grams of a methamphetamine mixture, and 100-999 grams of a heroin mixture carries the same penalties as cocaine. Second-offense penalties for these drugs range from 10 years to life in prison, with a fine of up to $8 million.” Many believe that if a person is caught with drugs and has to pay or serve a sentence, they will think that what they are doing is not worth it. While some people change, no data has shown that there is a relationship between a state's drug incarceration rates and their drug problems. Pew, an organization that provides information on social issues and public opinion, has done research on the topic. On the website they say: "To test this, Pew compared state drug incarceration rates to three important measures of drug problems: self-reported drug use (excluding marijuana), drug arrests, and overdose deaths – and found no statistically significant relationship between drug incarceration and these indicators. In other words, higher rates of drug incarceration did not translate into lower rates of drug use, arrests, or overdose deaths tests compared Tennessee and New Jersey. Since Tennessee has a much higher rate of drug crimes than New Jersey, it is shown that the degree of drug use in the state was virtually the same drug incarcerations and drug use in a state, it is unlikely that increasing drug charges will be a solution to the war on drugs Current situation“Mexico is increasing its efforts to eradicate poppy fields so more effectively, destroy clandestine laboratories and interdict heroin and other drugs before they reach the American border. The United States Government provides training to Mexican law enforcement, analysts, chemists, and military personnel to safely identify and dismantle clandestine pharmaceutical laboratories producing heroin, methamphetamine, and fentanyl….” Mexico also knows the dangers of drugs and the resulting violence. From past and present cartel violence, Mexico is working with the United States to gain more knowledge on how to stop drug production and transportation. In the Mexican government website a statement was released on drugs for the 2019 goal. In their website Mexico's Government focused on drug policy, prevention and reduction of drug use and international cooperation. In the overall conclusion of their website they had many similar goals to those of the United States. While they have many ideas about what they want to do to stop drug use, they barely mention any laws that will be put into effect. Proposed SolutionsDecriminalization of Drug PossessionOne of the proposed solutions to stop the war on drugs is to decriminalize drug possession. One way this could help is that people, instead of going to prison when found with drugs, would be seen as individuals with a substance abuse problem. This would make it easier for people to get help and not worry about being put in prison. As we have seen in the case of the solution to the Portugal problem, there has been a decrease in deaths due to the.