Answer

The Global Societal Problem, Argument, and Solution Paper

• Must be 1,750 to 2,250 words in length (approximately between seven and nine pages; not including title and references pages) and formatted according to APA style, as outlined in the University of Arizona Global Campus Writing Center’s 
• Must include a separate title page with the following:
  • Title of paper
  • Student’s name
  • Course name and number
  • Instructor’s name
  • Date submitted
• Must use at least eight scholarly sources.
  • Source Document Requirements:
    • Government sources may be used, but no more than two such sources may be used. Examples include whitehouse.gov, state.gov, usa.gov, cdc.gov, and so forth. These websites can be used to make a stronger point about your proposed solution within the argument.
    • Where documents are used for source materials, those must be peer-reviewed, scholarly journal articles, and academically published books. Popular media sources (e.g., newspapers, magazines, television and radio shows, etc.) must not be used. Materials from advocacy groups (e.g., Greenpeace, Human Rights Campaign, National Organization for Women, etc.) must not be used.

Good Critical Thinking Tips:

• Your paper should include academic sources that explain multiple sides of the issue.
• Your interpretations of the evidence should be objective and state the conclusions and theses presented in the evidence clearly and fairly.
• Your paper should place the various forms of evidence in relation to one another and demonstrate why one form or perspective is stronger than the other positions that one could take on the issue.
• Your paper should point out the limitations of current evidence and attempt to indicate areas for future research.

International Drug Trafficking

Millions of Americans engage in illicit drug use and spend a lot of their income on the complex and fragmented illegal market. To a varying degree, these drugs harm the general wellbeing, judgment, and health of their users while enriching the illicit market with billions of dollars as profit (Office of National Drug Control Policy, 2021).  Drug trafficking can be described as an illicit global trade involving cultivation, production, distribution, and sale of substances prohibited by the law (Keck & Correa-Cabrera, 2015). The international drug markets have complex dynamics with trafficking corridors linking various suppliers to consumer nations (Bichler et al., 2017). Due to the accumulated profits, these illicit international organizations garner resources to successfully compete with law enforcement units and penetrate the nations of interest. Thus, as a mainspring of criminal activity internationally, the illicit drug trade is a lucrative business of which the proceeds are invested through foreign financial institutions and banks. Except under licensed conditions, most jurisdictions impose drug prohibition laws to curtail the penetration and expansion of this illegal market (Buxton et al., 2020). This paper argues that the use of positive incentives and sanctions, economic and political trade-offs, and reduction of drug production at the source are some of the identified optimal solutions to curb the ever-growing international illicit drug trade.

History of Drug Trafficking

Globally, trading on illicit drugs has been accorded increasing attention since the early 20th century. However, in response to the growing demand, numerous illicit drug markets continue to thrive with cannabis, heroin, cocaine, and mind-altering synthetically produced substances being predominantly sold to European and North American regions (Office of National Drug Control Policy, 2021). The producer, intermediary, and user country geographies and histories determine the manufacture, transport, and use of these products (Bichler et al., 2017). Organizations that take part in the trade and the routes followed during trafficking are highly dependent on the policing initiatives, international policies, and geopolitical events as well as demand changes during their formation and adaptation in the illicit drug market (Bichler et al., 2017; Villareal et al., 2018). In summary, drug trafficking is an issue of historical concern with countries globally striving to eliminate the practice and the associated organizations.

Crime and drugs are interrelated in countless ways. In most countries, the illegal production through to consumption of illicit drugs amounts to the criminal offense with most of the federal prisoners being drug offenders (Keck & Correa-Cabrera, 2015). Drug-related crimes are related to trafficking such as conflicts between competing organizations that cause violence. Besides, research shows that drug addicts have a higher criminal tendency than non-users. Illicit drug trafficking also diverts law enforcement resources, energy, and time from other responsibilities to fight its practice (Buxton et al., 2020). Due to the huge amounts of profits involved, the trade also poses a police corruption danger. Health is also negatively impacted by illicit drugs with higher emergency room visits among drug users than non-users. For both the addicts and society, drug-related health concerns burden the healthcare costs due to associated fatal accidents and possible deaths (Tursunmuratov, 2020). Finally, drug trafficking is an international society concern because it leads to the disintegration of the family and breaks down the social controls exercised by the community (Giommoni et al., 2021). Based on the evidence above, drug trafficking can be categorized as a global concern and a cause of alarm that needs to be addressed promptly.

Policy enactments are aimed at reducing drug trafficking at every stage of practice. The current drug policy is focused on the reduction of illicit drug supply into the US economy (Buxton et al., 2020). This goal is supported by initiatives to cut on the number of drug crops that are cultivated, produced, and consumed globally through a multifaceted strategy that entails economic assistance/sanctions, international cooperation, law enforcement, and interdiction in countries that produce and transit the drugs and overall elimination of narcotic crop farming (U.S. Mission OSCE, 2018). These activities are believed to suppress and intervene in supply of the illicit drugs into the US territories (Bichler et al., 2017). Continued policy developments and initiatives to implement them make a huge difference on whether the fight against drug trafficking succeeds or remains in pilot stage.

Solution to International Drug Trafficking Through Minimization of Demand and Supply Reduction at The Source

Reducing the demand and supply of drugs at the source can be effectively employed to curtail their availability and hence seter the trade. The solution entails efforts to minimize the number of illicit drug crops and plants before processing (Giommoni et al., 2021). To ensure the solution is workable, farmers are offered alternative means of income through compensation or other farming alternatives to the narcotic crops (Villareal et al., 2018). Reducing the foreign supply of illicit drugs is a sure way of stopping their production and hence lowering the drug use levels. One of the proposed methods also considered the most effective supply reduction option is crop eradication using herbicides. When the method is combined with strict legal enforcement, success rates are significantly high because location and destruction of the crops are possible and easier than locating routes through which processed drugs are smuggled into the streets (Keck & Correa-Cabrera, 2015). In other words, detecting a plantation of coca leaf is way easier than half a ton of cocaine hydrochloride. The other reason why the method is successful is that the farming level is the cheapest in the chain with low resources directed towards concealing the crops compared to the already processed expensive drugs. Although opponents of this policy argue that the herbicides used may have a negative environmental impact, methods have been implemented to develop and use biological agents such as fungi that do not impact the other vegetation and insects that destroy drugs (U.S. Mission OSCE, 2018). Thus, the source is the breeding ground to propagation of drug trafficking and once it is eliminated, the trade is incapacitated.

Economic and Political Trade-Offs

Political and economic trade-offs are considered a collaborative and effective in dealing with drug trafficking across countries. Economic, political, and trafficker groups are expected to gang a combined violent and active opposition to some of the effective and expanded means of reducing illicit narcotics production (Collins, 2021). Traffickers in some nations have grown in strength to the extent of being termed as independent states and even garnered the favor of both federal and military police and state heads through corruption (Villareal et al., 2018). Crop-producing nations also accrue economic benefits from the sale of illicit plants which may compromise their cooperation to biological/chemical control of the farming practice through violent and politically challenging opposition (Keck & Correa-Cabrera, 2015). To counter these challenges, substitute income sources should be identified for the low-income crop farming countries through economic and political tradeoffs. Such a solution ensures that the countries get similar or better compensation hence lose the meaning of engaging in illicit crop production (Keck & Correa-Cabrera, 2015). Therefore, the appropriate methods and strategies to eliminate trafficking of drugs and the involved group should be selected based on the country’s policies and the ability to effectively deal with the trade.

Use of Positive Incentives and Sanctions

Sanctions and positive incentives minimize the availability of illegal drugs on the streets. In support of sanction policies connecting trade benefits and foreign aid, it is argued that the US should not carry out business as usual with nations that allow the production and trafficking of illicit drugs as well as permit drug profit laundering (Collins, 2021). Sanction policies are a communication of the moral dimension pointing out trafficking and production of illicit drugs as wrongdoing (U.S. Mission OSCE, 2018). Therefore, the United States should dissociate itself with countries that engage in this moral vice by creating trade sanctions and cutting on any foreign aid accorded to the offending countries (U.S. Mission OSCE, 2018). This solution is expected to accord the leverage nations require to minimize illicit crops and drug products as well as their engagement in other activities related to drug trafficking (Bichler et al., 2017). Consequently, the countries react to fight the production of drug crops and the cartels that fund these activities based on the overdependence of most developing countries on foreign aid. However, critics argue that sanction policies can lead to opposite results where the target countries grow more dependent on the drug market to finance their government activities. besides, some of the producing countries have little or no dependence on the US which kills the effectiveness of sanctions (Keck & Correa-Cabrera, 2015). In this case, multilateral sanctions that present an ugly Yankee‘s imperialism manifestation hurt the foreign country’s pride, and are naturally arbitrary produce the best results. Besides, when these sanctions are coupled with optimistic incentives that foster cooperation to fight illicit drugs, then their effectiveness grows optimal (Buxton et al., 2020). In summary, although sanctions may come out as a strict policy, when combined with positive incentives, they produce high compliance levels.

Statistical Interpretations

Targeted and coordinated interventions are effective in interdicting drug trafficking. Giommoni et al. (2021) conducted a study on the interdiction of drug trafficking through targeted and coordinated interventions. Although the study validity is affirmed when assessing specific routes which have a high degree of success in controlling drug trafficking, the heterogeneity of the various enforcement activities and due to variation of drug policies across countries (Giommoni et al., 2021). The study is not reliable when analyzing large inflow shares in many countries. Also, the study reliability is tested by lack of reporting by some of the countries. The study is upwardly biased on its use of the social network approach as the only method of identifying trafficking routes for heroin and cocaine drugs. The strength of the study by Giommoni et al. (2021) uses combined information from various countries to create an interdependent drug trafficking network and facilitate the identification of routes that enhance counter-drug efforts. However, its weakness is exposed by the limited evidence that is used to make some of the trafficking connections.

            Drug policy and drug supply-side strategies employed by the US are considered relatively effective in dealing with trafficking. Keck & Correa-Cabrera (2015), on the other hand, conducted a study to examine the effectiveness of the US drug supply-side strategies and drug policy. The validity of the study is to some extent compromised through the use of regression analysis because it influences some of the independent variables. the study reliability is also questionable because some of the control variables such as substitution or eradication of crops, international treaties and agreements, and international efforts, that could affect the independent variables are ignored (Keck & Correa-Cabrera, 2015). The study strength is that it employs statistical data to successfully determine the influence of border enforcement on the supply of illicit drugs. However, the study identifies the border as the sole source of the drug trafficking problem even when other factors propel its practice. Future research should focus on the collection of drug seizures, drug prices, and border enforcement data over a prolonged period that can enable multivariate time-series vector analysis.

            Successful elimination/reduction of drug trafficking is anchored on the identification of the organized groups’ structures. Bichler et al. (2017) conducted a study to review the use of social network analysis in documenting the drug trafficking structure of organized groups. The study by Bichler et al. (2017) successfully identifies the dense, sparse and centralized/not centralized criminal network structures involved and their associated social and human capital. The limitations to this research include methodological shortcomings where the court of police records are the only source of information (Bichler et al., 2017). The overreliance on the criminal justice data compromises the study validity and reliability because the security trade-off and efficiency of social and human capital may differ across involved groups. this also creates a bias in terms of overlooking data from other sources that reveal more about these network structures.

Ethical Outcomes Resulting from the Solution

            The positive ethical outcome that can emerge from the proposed solution is that illicit drug trafficking is effectively minimized. The negative ethical outcome on the other hand is that the solution to reduce the supply and demand of illicit drugs leads to a further increase in trafficking or maintains the current drug trade status. The ethical issues related to successful international drug trafficking elimination include dealing with withdrawal symptoms among the individuals already addicted to drug use. Ethical issues associated with a further increase in drug trafficking include inconsistent punishment and labeling. Inconsistent punishment entails treatment of some traffickers harsher than others such as through death penalties while others are subjected to mere jail terms. Also, failure for the reduction of demand and supply of illicit drugs evokes labeling of nations that play key roles in international drug trafficking.

Conclusion

            The use of positive incentives and sanctions, economic and political trade-offs, and reduction of drug production at the source are effective measures towards minimization of international drug trafficking. International drug trafficking is a major organized crime that not only goes against the law but also is a vice that compromises societal norms and values. research shows that the prevalence of crime in the US is a key factor towards societal violence, environmental pollution, drug abuse among minors, and other negative impacts. Thus, nations should forge a united front to fight international drug abuse.

REFERENCES

• Bichler, G., Malm, A., & Cooper, T. (2017). Drug supply networks: a systematic review of the organizational structure of illicit drug trade. Crime Science, 6(1), 1–23.
  https://doi.org/10.1186/s40163-017-0063-3

  Buxton, J., Margo, G., & Burger, L. (2020). The impact of global drug policy on women: Shifting the needle. Emerald Group Publishing. https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/978-1-83982-882-920200037/full/pdf?title=prelims

  Collins, J. (2021). Evaluating trends and stakeholders in the international drug control regime complex. International Journal of Drug Policy, 90, 103060. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2020.103060

  Giommoni, L., Berlusconi, G., & Aziani, A. (2021). Interdicting international drug trafficking: A network approach for coordinated and targeted interventions. European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research, (2021), 1-28. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10610-020-09473-0

  Keck, M., & Correa-Cabrera, G. (2015). U.S. Drug Policy and Supply-Side Strategies: Assessing Effectiveness and Results. Norteamérica, 10(2), 47–67. https://doi-org.proxy-library.ashford.edu/10.20999/nam.2015.b002

  Office of National Drug Control Policy. (2021). High-intensity drug trafficking areas (HIDTA) program. The White House. https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/ondcp/high-intensity-drug-trafficking-areas-program

  Tursunmuratov, M. (2020). Practices to fight against drugs in international experience and its features. The American Journal of Applied Sciences, 02(09), 81-89. https://doi.org/10.37547/tajas/volume02issue09-14

  U.S. Mission OSCE. (2018, July 18). Reducing the supply of and demand for illicit drugs: Strategic approaches. U.S. Mission to the OSCE. https://osce.usmission.gov/reducing-the-supply-of-and-demand-for-illicit-drugs-strategic-approaches/

  Villareal, C., Rojas, J., & Ochoa, M. (2018). Operational impact of canine teams in the fight against drug trafficking in Colombia: review of their contribution, strategies, and recent trends. Revue Scientifique et Technique de l’OIE, 37(1), 201-211. https://doi.org/10.20506/rst.37.1.2751