Essay On South American Drugs

Drugs are, have been, and will continue to be the root of much violence and illegal activities throughout the world. However, how much of this stems from South America? Well, as it turns out, South America is home to a large number of drug lords as proven via the history of drugs in South America, arrests/deaths of traffickers, and major consumers (USA). While they are commonly well hidden among the society of these countries, when one looks close enough they can see that South America is and has been a source of drugs for many years.

First of all, South America is home to drug lords as proven via the history of drugs in South America. The beginnings of drug trafficking in South America came with the production of coca and coca-based goods

The War on Drugs is a phrase used to refer to a government-led initiative that aims to stop illegal drug use, distribution and trade by increasing and enforcing penalties for offenders. The movement started in the 1970s and is still evolving today (History.com Staff). The drugs that were being transported when this initiative was put into action were coming from South America (Mexico was first, but US locked down borders, so South American drug lords seized the opportunity). South American drug trafficking was, in the end, the tipping point for the American government. Thinking this through logically, one can’t have a war on drugs without the drugs themselves. Where were the drugs coming from? The producers/traffickers, otherwise known as the drug lords in South America. Once this initiative was officially put into action, ports of entry in the United States from South America became virtual war zones. In Miami, for example, there was a homicide rate of 70 people per 100,000 (Hyland). You can’t have crime without a source of the crime. What was the source? Drugs. Who was producing these drugs? Drug lords in South