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Essay on Drug Abuse

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Essay on Drug Abuse in 150 words

Essay on drug abuse in 250-300 words, essay on drug abuse in 500-1000 words.

Drug abuse is a global issue that poses serious risks to individuals and society. It involves the harmful and excessive use of drugs, leading to physical and mental health problems. Drug abuse can result in addiction, organ damage, cognitive impairment, and social and economic difficulties. Prevention efforts should focus on education, raising awareness about the dangers of drug abuse, and promoting healthy lifestyles. Access to quality healthcare and addiction treatment services is crucial for recovery. Strengthening law enforcement measures against drug trafficking is necessary to address the supply side of the problem. Creating supportive environments and opportunities for positive engagement can help prevent drug abuse. By taking collective action, we can combat drug abuse and build healthier communities.

Drug abuse is a growing global concern that poses significant risks to individuals, families, and communities. It refers to the excessive and harmful use of drugs, both legal and illegal, that have negative effects on physical and mental health.

Drug abuse has severe consequences for individuals and society. Physically, drug abuse can lead to addiction, damage vital organs, and increase the risk of overdose. Mentally, it can cause cognitive impairment, and psychological disorders, and deteriorate overall well-being. Additionally, drug abuse often leads to social and economic problems, such as strained relationships, loss of employment, and criminal activities.

Preventing drug abuse requires a multi-faceted approach. Education and awareness programs play a crucial role in informing individuals about the dangers of drug abuse and promoting healthy lifestyle choices. Access to quality healthcare and addiction treatment services is vital to help individuals recover from substance abuse. Strengthening law enforcement efforts to curb drug trafficking and promoting international cooperation is also essential to address the supply side of the issue.

Community support and a nurturing environment are critical in preventing drug abuse. Creating opportunities for individuals, especially young people, to engage in positive activities and providing social support systems can serve as protective factors against drug abuse.

In conclusion, drug abuse is a significant societal problem with detrimental effects on individuals and communities. It requires a comprehensive approach involving education, prevention, treatment, and enforcement. By addressing the root causes, raising awareness, and providing support to those affected, we can combat drug abuse and create a healthier and safer society for all.

Title: Drug Abuse – A Global Crisis Demanding Urgent Action

Introduction :

Drug abuse is a pressing global issue that poses significant risks to individuals, families, and communities. It refers to the excessive and harmful use of drugs, both legal and illegal, that have detrimental effects on physical and mental health. This essay explores the causes and consequences of drug abuse, the social and economic impact, prevention and treatment strategies, and the importance of raising awareness and fostering supportive communities in addressing this crisis.

Causes and Factors Contributing to Drug Abuse

Several factors contribute to drug abuse. Genetic predisposition, peer pressure, stress, trauma, and environmental influences play a role in initiating substance use. The availability and accessibility of drugs, as well as societal norms and cultural acceptance, also influence drug abuse patterns. Additionally, underlying mental health issues and co-occurring disorders can drive individuals to self-medicate with drugs.

Consequences of Drug Abuse

Drug abuse has devastating consequences on individuals and society. Physically, drug abuse can lead to addiction, tolerance, and withdrawal symptoms. Substance abuse affects vital organs, impairs cognitive function, and increases the risk of accidents and injuries. Mental health disorders, such as depression, anxiety, and psychosis, are often associated with drug abuse. Substance abuse also takes a toll on relationships, leading to strained family dynamics, social isolation, and financial instability. The social and economic costs of drug abuse include increased healthcare expenses, decreased productivity, and the burden on criminal justice systems.

Prevention and Education

Preventing drug abuse requires a comprehensive and multi-faceted approach. Education and awareness programs are essential in schools, communities, and the media to inform individuals about the risks and consequences of drug abuse. Promoting healthy coping mechanisms, stress management skills, and decision-making abilities can empower individuals to resist peer pressure and make informed choices. Early intervention programs that identify at-risk individuals and provide support and resources are crucial in preventing substance abuse.

Treatment and Recovery

Access to quality healthcare and evidence-based addiction treatment is vital in addressing drug abuse. Treatment options include detoxification, counseling, behavioral therapies, and medication-assisted treatments. Rehabilitation centers, support groups, and outpatient programs provide a continuum of care for individuals seeking recovery. Holistic approaches, such as addressing co-occurring mental health disorders and promoting healthy lifestyles, contribute to successful long-term recovery. Support from family, friends, and communities plays a significant role in sustaining recovery and preventing relapse.

Law Enforcement and Drug Policies

Effective law enforcement efforts are necessary to disrupt drug trafficking and dismantle illicit drug networks. International cooperation and collaboration are crucial in combating the global drug trade. Additionally, drug policies should focus on a balanced approach that combines law enforcement with prevention, treatment, and harm reduction strategies. Shifting the emphasis from punitive measures toward prevention and rehabilitation can lead to more effective outcomes.

Creating Supportive Communities:

Fostering supportive communities is vital in addressing drug abuse. Communities should provide resources, social support networks, and opportunities for positive engagement. This includes promoting healthy recreational activities, providing vocational training, and creating safe spaces for individuals in recovery. Reducing the stigma associated with drug abuse and encouraging empathy and understanding are crucial to building a compassionate and supportive environment.

Conclusion :

Drug abuse remains a complex and multifaceted issue with far-reaching consequences. By addressing the causes, raising awareness, implementing preventive measures, providing quality treatment and support services, and fostering supportive communities, we can combat drug abuse and alleviate its impact. It requires collaboration and a collective effort from individuals, communities, governments, and organizations to build a society that is resilient against the scourge of drug abuse. Through education, prevention, treatment, and compassion, we can pave the way toward a healthier and drug-free future.

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113 Drug Trafficking Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Inside This Article

Drug trafficking is a serious issue that affects countries all over the world. It is a multi-billion dollar industry that involves the production, distribution, and sale of illegal drugs. Drug trafficking not only fuels addiction and crime but also poses significant threats to public health and safety.

If you are tasked with writing an essay on drug trafficking, it can be challenging to come up with a topic that is both interesting and relevant. To help you get started, here are 113 drug trafficking essay topic ideas and examples:

• The history of drug trafficking
• The impact of drug trafficking on society
• Drug trafficking and its connection to organized crime
• The role of drug cartels in drug trafficking
• The influence of drug trafficking on international relations
• The economics of drug trafficking
• Drug trafficking and its impact on developing countries
• The relationship between drug trafficking and violence
• The role of law enforcement in combating drug trafficking
• The effectiveness of drug trafficking laws and policies
• The impact of drug trafficking on public health
• Drug trafficking and its connection to terrorism
• The impact of drug trafficking on human rights
• The role of technology in drug trafficking
• Drug trafficking and the dark web
• The role of corruption in drug trafficking
• Drug trafficking and its impact on the environment
• The role of drug trafficking in fueling addiction
• The impact of drug trafficking on marginalized communities
• The relationship between drug trafficking and drug addiction treatment
• Drug trafficking and its impact on the prison system
• The impact of drug trafficking on children and youth
• The relationship between drug trafficking and drug overdose deaths
• The role of drug trafficking in the opioid crisis
• The impact of drug trafficking on mental health
• Drug trafficking and its connection to human trafficking
• The role of drug trafficking in fueling gang violence
• The impact of drug trafficking on law enforcement officers
• The relationship between drug trafficking and money laundering
• The role of drug trafficking in the spread of infectious diseases
• The impact of drug trafficking on drug policy reform
• Drug trafficking and its impact on the criminal justice system
• The relationship between drug trafficking and drug sentencing disparities
• The role of drug trafficking in fueling drug wars
• The impact of drug trafficking on drug rehabilitation programs
• Drug trafficking and its connection to drug abuse prevention efforts
• The role of drug trafficking in drug overdose prevention
• The impact of drug trafficking on drug education programs
• The relationship between drug trafficking and drug legalization
• The role of drug trafficking in drug regulation
• The impact of drug trafficking on drug testing programs
• Drug trafficking and its connection to drug treatment programs
• The role of drug trafficking in drug use prevention
• The impact of drug trafficking on drug diversion programs
• The relationship between drug trafficking and drug diversion prevention
• The role of drug trafficking in drug diversion recovery
• The impact of drug trafficking on drug diversion treatment
• Drug trafficking and its connection to drug diversion prevention
• Drug trafficking

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Executive summary

Introduction, transnational crime and development, the pacific drugs landscape, drivers of the drug trade, the impact on security and societies in the pacific, the regional response, conclusion: a pacific-led, partner-supported approach, drug trafficking in the pacific islands: the impact of transnational crime.

The Pacific has become a lucrative drug corridor, driven by cartels, criminal organisations, and local gangs. Regional states and traditional partners must act rapidly and adaptively in response.

• The Pacific “drug highway” has spilled over into domestic markets for illicit drug consumption and production in the Pacific Islands region. Drug trafficking has evolved significantly with the rise of local actors in transnational criminal networks.
• Capacity shortfalls and a disconnect between regional law enforcement infrastructure and national law enforcement agencies undermine trust and are detrimental to intelligence sharing and interoperability in cross-border policing efforts.
• The deportation policies of Australia, New Zealand, and the United States are exacerbating crime and addiction within Pacific nations. They undermine the policy objectives of development partners in the region and will need urgent review.

Transnational crime [1] — specifically drug production and trafficking — is one of the most serious security issues facing the Pacific Islands region. Methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine trafficking is on the rise. The Pacific Islands have become a production site and trafficking destination as well as trafficking thoroughfare, and indigenous/local crime syndicates now work in partnership with transnational crime syndicates. The criminal deportee policies of Australia, the United States, and New Zealand are contributing to the problem, as is the Covid-19 pandemic, by exacerbating the vulnerabilities on which transnational organisations and local crime actors capitalise. The Pacific and its partners have responded by strengthening regional policing architecture and governance through enhanced law enforcement mechanisms, but challenges remain as the illicit drug trade adapts and takes root in the region.

Over the past two decades, increased connectivity within and across the Pacific Islands region [2] (hereafter “the Pacific”) has enhanced its broad economic opportunities as well as exacerbated its vulnerabilities. [3] In particular, the period has seen a significant increase in the trafficking of methamphetamine, cocaine, and precursors. Situated along a maritime corridor utilised for legitimate trade between major economic markets on the Asian and American borders of the Pacific Rim, [4] the region has been a principal trans-shipment hub for drugs. It is valuable to Asian organised crime syndicates and Mexican and South American cartels as a transit route and occasional production site, targeting the lucrative markets in Australia and New Zealand where the street value of methamphetamine and cocaine is amongst the highest in the world.

Of equal significance has been the emergence of indigenous regional organised crime groups and networks with links to organised crime syndicates in Australia, New Zealand, and further afield. This growth has been driven by the spill-over effect of trafficked drugs into local markets, spreading from largely elite and expatriate populations into the wider community, and the arrival of criminal deportees from Australia, New Zealand, and the United States.

This analysis identifies the key trends and dynamics driving the drug market in the Pacific and the implications for societies, traditional power structures, and states. This paper focuses on two highly addictive stimulants — crystal methamphetamine and cocaine — as well as precursors and chemicals necessary for their manufacturing. The analysis highlights the inter-connectedness of transnational criminal activities and the need for a holistic mapping of those connections to better understand the transnational crime landscape and the intersections with national and local level Pacific criminal networks.

Transnational crime in the Pacific represents a microcosm of a wider global trend. Cited as one of six key global security challenges in the United Nations Secretary-General's High-level Panel on Threats, Challenges, and Change, transnational crime erodes human security and undermines “the rule of law within and across borders”. [5] In a region plagued by “unmet development challenges”, [6] transnational crime and illicit drugs are a cross-cutting threat to development, security, and governance in the Pacific.

At the global level, transnational crime is recognised as a multi-dimensional driver of state fragility. [7] In 2014, the UN Secretary-General highlighted organised crime as one of the primary factors affecting conflict and stability, obstructing economic development and legitimate commerce, and holding people, communities, and countries captive in a negative spiral of fragility and underdevelopment. [8] Accordingly, reducing transnational and organised crime has been recognised as one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), [9] specifically SDG Target 16.4. [10] Drug trafficking is the largest revenue generator globally among the variety of transnational criminal markets. [11]

In the Pacific, there is a growing recognition that transnational crime can generate significant insecurity, disrupt traditional and cultural mechanisms, fuel corruption, weaken key security sectors, and undermine formal and informal governance. Accordingly, the Pacific Transnational Crime Network (PTCN) was established in 2002 by the Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police. More recently, and reflecting the complex challenges and growing urgency of tackling transnational crime in the region, the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) elevated the issue in its Boe Declaration on Regional Security (2018), which identified transnational crime as one of four paramount challenges confronting the region.

The production and trafficking of illicit drugs are the most typical forms of transnational crime. [12] The Pacific’s extensive and porous maritime jurisdictional boundaries, differences in governance structures, and heterogeneity in law enforcement capacity have contributed to the region’s attractiveness as a transit route and, increasingly, production site.

In 2019, Interpol President Kim Jong Yang stated:

[T]here is no doubt that Pacific Islands Countries face a unique set of challenges, caught in the midst of the Pacific highway between major suppliers of illicit goods, large demand hubs, and thousands of miles of coastline to monitor. At the same time, some of the Pacific Islands are seeing the trans-shipment of narcotics through their territories devolve into a growing domestic demand for illicit drugs. [13]

The illegal drug trade in Australia is estimated to be worth AU$11.3 billion [14] and in New Zealand up to an estimated AU$1.86 billion per annum. [15] The drugs typically arrive by air, with 85–99 per cent of seizures for heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and MDMA from airfreighted cargo. Alternative transport is by sea (in containers and yachts) and light plane.

The Pacific is the principal transit route for the trafficking of drugs and chemical precursors bound from Asia and South America to Australia and New Zealand, where consumers pay some of the highest prices globally. [16] In both Australia and New Zealand, methamphetamine and cocaine usage has been steadily increasing, [17] and reached record levels in April and June 2020 despite the disruption of supply chains due to Covid-19. [18]

Recent growth in the Pacific drug market has alarmed the region’s law enforcement officers. In Fiji, for example, there were only 148 drug-related policing cases (including arrests for cocaine and heroin) in 2009. By 2018, this had risen to almost 1400 arrests; methamphetamine cases rose from two in 2009 to 113 in 2019. [19] This reflects both increased drug trafficking activity and volume due to rising demand and prices in Australia and New Zealand, as well as strengthened enforcement capacity.

The trafficking and trade in drugs in the Pacific is driven by five interconnected networks of actors: Chinese and Asian syndicates; Mexican and South American cartels; Australian organised crime; New Zealand organised crime; and local or hybrid indigenous drug gangs.

Cocaine accounts for the largest volume of seized illicit drugs transiting through the region, with a record eight tonnes seized between mid-2016 and 2018. [20] In May 2018, authorities from Papua New Guinea discovered a haul of cocaine packaged in cloth bags on Wasim Island near Jinlageg Point, assessing it to weigh between 220 and 330 kilograms. Buried in the sand, the cocaine was found by a local fisherman and handed over to a radio operator. Six Chinese and one Montenegrin returned on a fishing boat to retrieve the cocaine. [21] The seven were later apprehended at sea by a joint Papua New Guinea police and defence operation. [22]

In July 2020, more than 500 kilograms of cocaine worth AU$160 million was seized by the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC) after a twin-engine Cessna crash-landed en route to Queensland at a makeshift airfield on the outskirts of the capital, Port Moresby. A two year investigation by Australian and Papua New Guinean authorities had tracked members of a Melbourne-based criminal syndicate and were waiting to seize the aircraft on its arrival in Australia. [23] The incident highlighted the role of local criminal partners who had facilitated the transport of the cocaine from a yacht to the airfield and then onto the aircraft.

Since late 2016, there has been a noticeable increase in the detection of cocaine in all sub-regions of the Pacific due to greater inter-agency cooperation, such as through the Transnational Serious and Organised Crime (TSOC) Pacific Taskforce agreement between Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and Tonga. However, regional law enforcement bodies claim that the Pacific itself represents only a very small consumer base. [24] Factors limiting the market are the high price of cocaine, and an expatriate or elite user demographic. Yet, a critical paucity of formal data at the national and regional levels on drug trafficking, production, and distribution in the Pacific, and the lack of reliable statistics has impaired the ability of law enforcement to assess the problem accurately. [25]

The cultural, social, and hierarchical web of Pacific Islands families and societies serves as a further barrier, the framework creating both a frontline against illicit activities, but at times also providing a shield for actors reliant on impenetrable networks. One Pacific Islands security official said:

It is difficult when we know an individual is involved in drug crime but is related to a family member, a minister, a judge in the courts, a senior official. Who do we question? The doors close. Conducting investigations here isn’t like doing investigations in Australia…there are layers of cultural obligations and implications. [26]

From transit point to production site

In 2004, the discovery of the largest “super lab” in the southern hemisphere changed the Pacific drug landscape. On 9 June that year, as part of Operation Outrigger, five kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, 700 litres of liquid methamphetamine, and sufficient precursor chemicals to produce an additional 1000 kilograms of methamphetamine were seized from a warehouse in Suva. [27] The network of drug traffickers included Chinese nationals with Chinese triad links, one Fijian national, and four Hong Kong passport holders. Key players Yuen Yei Ha and her husband Zhong Qiang had recently obtained Fijian citizenship.

The operation, a collaboration between police from Fiji, Australia, and New Zealand, highlighted three issues: (1) the region had shifted from transit point to production site; (2) the success of the operation was dependent on local facilitation and was therefore fuelling local corruption; [28] and (3) the existing legislation was outdated and did not criminalise precursors. Since 2004, small scale production labs have proliferated in Fiji, [29] Tonga, [30] the Marshall Islands, [31] the Northern Marianas, [32] and Papua New Guinea. [33]

Domestic legislation has been slow in responding to increased illicit drug production. In 2004, Fiji passed legislation to strengthen its drug laws and policing powers, and in 2019 the Ministry of Defence and National Security drafted a national narcotics strategy and framework. In 2020, Tonga amended its Illicit Drugs Control Act [34] with acting Justice Minister Samiu Vaipulu stating that “ice” (methamphetamine) is “Tonga's killing virus, not Covid-19”. [35] The amendment, modelled on New Zealand’s Drug Act, directly targets methamphetamine usage.

National security strategies, which PIF members committed to under the Boe Declaration, have sought to align domestic focus on transnational crime with the regional architecture. The newly developed national security strategies of Samoa, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu all identify transnational crime and the spill-over of drug abuse into local communities as key security issues. A central theme across the three national security strategies is that there is considerable reliance on regional and international counter drug trafficking initiatives.

The local drug market

The domestic market for drugs in the Pacific has traditionally consisted of expatriate, tourist, and some local cannabis users. In the past decade, the local drug market has grown, with facilitators being paid in drugs for services, then selling them onwards. This has contributed to rising addiction amongst locals and the emergence of a local drug network. The PTCN identified a “dramatic increase” in drug-related activity between 2014 and 2017 with the rapid expansion of methamphetamine availability across all sub-regions of the Pacific due to the drug’s low cost and highly addictive properties. [36]

In Tonga, between 2016 and 2019, police data showed that drug-related arrests rose sharply from 25 (2016–17) to 57 (2018–19). [37] In parallel, weapons seizures almost doubled, from 10 (2016–17) to 19 (2018–19). [38] According to the Tongan Attorney General’s Office, 70 per cent of drug raids in Tonga recover weapons. [39] Officials reported that the increase in drug offences indicated the growing presence of methamphetamine in the kingdom, and correlated with an increase in drug-related crime such as robberies and house break-ins. [40]

In response, the Tongan government declared a “war on drugs” and established the Tonga Police Drug Enforcement Taskforce in April 2018. In the first year of operation, the taskforce made 263 arrests and seized more than 30 kilograms of methamphetamine with a street value in excess of AU$24 million. [41] However, Tongan police claim they are “only scratching the surface”. [42]

Trafficking methods and trends

The maritime transport sector is the main vector in drug trafficking across the region. The Pacific is heavily dependent on maritime shipping with more than 80 per cent of all international cargo (both container and non-container) transported by ship. [43] Containerisation is one of the primary modes of trafficking illicit drugs in the Pacific, with the trend likely to grow. Container tonnage in the Pacific is estimated to increase from the 1.7 million tons or 12.1 per cent of total seaborne cargo it represented in 2000, to 4.2 million tons or 19 per cent in 2030. [44] Oversight within the maritime transport sector is especially challenging and is further compounded by disparities in port infrastructure.

Yachts and pleasure craft are also highly versatile vehicles for trafficking drugs between the Pacific, Australia, and New Zealand. From December 2016 to November 2017, Pacific-based law enforcement agencies seized approximately 7.6 tonnes of cocaine on board 11 small craft believed to be bound for Australia; a significant increase in both the frequency and volume from previous years. Fiji’s Revenue and Customs Authority manager stated in 2020 that most of the pleasure craft — approximately five to ten per day — originate from New Zealand and Australia, and that “it’s like looking for the needle in the haystack of legitimacy…when you go fishing you don’t expect to catch all the fish in the ocean”. [45]

Cross-border collaboration between national and regional security agencies is critical in the effort to stem the maritime flow of drug traffic. For example, the Australian Federal Police (AFP), New South Wales Police, Australian Border Force, and United Kingdom and New Caledonian authorities cooperated to seize a large shipment of methamphetamine in 2020 from a yacht intercepted off the coast of New South Wales with links to a broader trafficking operation stretching between Mexico, New Caledonia, and Norfolk Island. [46]

Recent seizures reveal that Papua New Guinea remains a key transit site into Australia, including attempts to traffic AU$90 million of cocaine through the Torres Strait in 2018 and the discovery in 2019 by a community on Budi island of 11 duffle bags of cocaine worth AU$50 million buried at a local beach. [47]

The Pacific drug trade is propelled by a complex web of external and local syndicates, regional actors and hybridised networks. It is facilitated by criminal deportation policy settings in Australia, New Zealand, and the United States.

Organised crime

External organised crime actors have played a central role in establishing, fuelling, and maintaining the drug market in the Pacific and driving the growth of local drug production and consumption.

Australia and New Zealand’s prolific and high-profile organised crime networks — including outlaw motorcycle gangs (OMCGs) — have expanded their activities offshore and into the Pacific. [48] There has been a notable increase in OMCG members travelling to the Pacific since 2016 — most commonly to the Cook Islands and Fiji. One report cites an increase from 90 members travelling to seven Pacific destinations in 2016–17, to 140 members in 2017–18 — an increase of more than 50 per cent. [49] A regional security sector official noted in 2019 that “the outlaw motorcycle gangs are one of the key links between the syndicates and cartels and the Australian and New Zealand drug markets — the Pacific is caught in the middle”. [50]

Fiji is a valuable trans-shipment point, and the largest Pacific-based OMCG is the Fiji Rebels. Established by expatriates linked to the New South Wales chapter in 2012, the Fiji Rebels has chapters in Suva and Nadi consisting of both Australian and Fijian nationals. [51] In 2014, the Australian Crime Commission suspected that the Fiji chapter was being used as a conduit for drug shipments from South America to Australia and other countries in the region. [52]

The New Zealand-based Head Hunters motorcycle gang is particularly active in the Cook Islands, with a senior Head Hunters member (of Cook Islander descent) residing in the Cook Islands and well connected across both the gang and the local community. [53] In response to the number of gang members travelling to the Cook Islands, an operation led by Cook Islands Immigration has prevented the entry of overseas gang members and criminals, including nearly 40 individuals in 2019 alone. [54]

The Pacific Transnational Crime Coordination Centre (PTCCC) stated in 2018 that despite the increase in OMCG members travelling to the Pacific, the threat of OMCGs is no longer assessed as increasing due to “effective control measures and proactive/targeted responses”, which have contributed to better management of the associated risk of OMCGs. [55] Samoa’s national security strategy, however, identifies OMCGs with links to organised crime as a concern across several Pacific countries and an “emerging threat” in Samoa. [56]

Asian syndicates, notably Chinese, and Mexican and South American cartels are also principal actors in regional drug markets. Chinese criminal syndicates and triads with links to Chinese commercial interests in the Pacific have been dominant, but are now being challenged by South American and Mexican cartels — and in some cases are collaborating with them. Mexican cartels have been identified as active in Australia over the past decade [57] and US government reports have detected growing links between Chinese organised crime syndicates and Mexican cartels. [58]

Criminal deportees

The criminal deportee policies of Australia, New Zealand, and the United States are a significant contributor to the growth in transnational crime in the Pacific. [59] The majority of deportees from these countries have criminal records and are removed to Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Marshall Islands. A 2014 study reported that most deportees removed to the Pacific are male, between the ages of 25 and 35, on average having spent more than 12 years away from their country of citizenship, and are incarcerated for an average of four years in the host country, with a large number separated from families. [60]

Available data on the deportees is not comprehensive. Deportations from Australia are difficult to disaggregate. Department of Home Affairs statistics for the period from 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2020 cited 1021 visa cancellations under Section 501, including 477 New Zealanders and 16 Fijians. The majority of offences were drug related (234), followed by assault (169). [61] Deportations and removals from New Zealand under the Immigration Act (2009) to the Pacific Islands [62] between 2013 and 2018 totalled 1040. Of the deportations, 400 were due to criminal convictions, and 640 were for non-criminal reasons. [63] The most common Pacific destinations for deportees are Samoa (145 in five years), Tonga (120), and Fiji (113).

Data from the United States is similarly difficult to disaggregate, however between 2004 and 2018, 321 individuals were deported to Fiji, 136 to Samoa, and 350 to Tonga. [64] The data on deportees to US “compact of association” territories — the Marshall Islands , Federated States of Micronesia, and Palau — is incomplete, but number 61, 514, and 101 deportations respectively. [65] In the 2017–18 period, US-based deportees were being returned to the Pacific in increasing numbers, with the Federated States of Micronesia being notified at least once a week of pending deportations. [66] Overall, more than 3500 Pacific nationals were deported from Australia, New Zealand, and the United States between 2004 and 2020. The number is likely far higher given the gaps in reporting.

Barriers to reintegration for these deportees are significant. [67] For example, it is unclear which country — host or recipient — bears responsibility for providing resettlement support. Communication between the deporting countries and receiving countries is inadequate. As a Tongan Police spokesperson noted: “Australia doesn’t advise us when they send deportees to Tonga.” [68] A Tongan deportee from New Zealand said, “I’ve never been here before [as an adult]. I don’t speak the language. I grew up as a Kiwi. I don’t know how to live here. I just want to go home.” [69]

The lack of support for deportees in their home countries means many vulnerable individuals turn (or return) to crime and drug smuggling. This is particularly apparent when deportees are not accepted or integrated into local communities [70] and are forced to create their own support mechanisms and power structures. A number of deportees bring their links to the gangs and diaspora from their host countries into the Pacific. [71]

The PTCN has assessed the criminal deportee threat as steadying due to improved information exchange and legislative reform, which has assisted in better managing the associated risks. [72] Despite this, given the small population sizes of Pacific countries and territories, the impact on communities and the state itself of these deportations can be significant. [73]

UNESCO research in Samoa and Tonga revealed that 83 per cent of deportees had been incarcerated due to gang activities during their adolescence in the host country and 37 per cent had been investigated or charged following deportation. Of those, almost half had served prison time. [74] The PTCN notes instances in Fiji and Samoa of offenders who were originally deported for drug-related convictions being arrested in their home countries for drug trafficking offences. [75] Dependence on remittances, difficulty obtaining employment, the challenges of integration, and cultural alienation are all contributing factors. According to one Pacific Islands official, “the deportees started the fire, but now the fire is out of control” [76] with locals involved at all levels of importation, facilitation, sales, and trafficking.

The deportee policies of Australia, New Zealand, and the United States undermine, and are in direct contradiction with, their stated foreign policy objectives of strengthening the stability and prosperity of the region. As a member of a Tongan civil society organisation argued, “New Zealand, Australia, and America are exporting their problems to us. How does that build trust between our countries?” [77]

Covid-19 and the closure of borders has disrupted the deportation of criminals to the Pacific. In 2021, New Zealand had 32 criminal deportees awaiting removal; the majority for violent offences. [78] What is clear is that criminal deportation policies need reviewing in light of the regional economic impact of the pandemic, and their role in the growth of local actors involved in transnational criminal organisations. [79]

Narco-corruption

Corruption remains a critical challenge to governance and an obstacle to development in the Pacific. [80] The infiltration of key government agencies and departments, corruption of public officials, and tactics from coercion to intimidation and outright violence are integral components of illicit drug markets.

In the Pacific, narco-corruption has compromised institutions and individuals across key agencies such as customs, police, and immigration; and undermined the rule of law. In 2019, for example, Tonga’s “war on drugs” resulted in the arrests of a Tongan senior customs official and a police officer who were facilitating trafficking in methamphetamine, cocaine, and illegal firearms from the United States. [81] It is likely there are far more examples. Family networks and obligations, low wages, and intimidation tactics are all key enablers for corruption. As a young Tongan customs officer stated:

Even if a customs officer is not involved in corrupt activities and does not want to be involved, you have criminals who have shipments coming in and the customs officer is aware of it and wants to stop the shipment coming in, but the criminals will use intimidation tactics, which customs officials can’t counter due to the involvement of extended family. [82]

Another customs officer cited the network of kinship as an enabling dynamic as well as distrust of police: “Everyone knows who is connected to who; they have to ignore [the criminal activity] because they don’t trust that police can help because they [the criminals] know.” [83]

A third officer highlighted the sense of powerlessness: “We are not corrupt, there’s just nothing we can do…we can’t trust our own organisation…and we have to keep our families safe.” [84]

The work of Tonga’s anti-drug taskforce has led to the suspension of 28 police officers, with Tonga’s Police Minister, Mateni Tapueluelu, warning others with status in Tongan society: “Don't think you can sit on some high places and think you're too high for the police to reach, it's just a matter of time. You deal, you pay.” [85]

Papua New Guinea’s Police Commissioner, David Manning, has similarly highlighted the complicity of RPNGC officers, affirming that “there are criminals in uniform” and that he is committed to ridding the force of these elements. [86] Concerns about the infiltration of criminals into security and law enforcement agencies are also shared by the head of Fiji’s Police Drug Intelligence Unit, Anare Masitabua. [87]

Shadow economies and alternative power structures

The drug trade in the Pacific has created shadow economies and contributed to the creation of criminal hierarchies, which undermine the balance of power between traditional authority, church, and state. For example, a family member profiting from crime can supplant the traditional head of the family by exercising economic influence within the family and the village by buying farming equipment, gifting large amounts of money for weddings and funerals, and lending money. [88]

Criminal actors and groups have created sub-cultures and power structures with their own leaders and hierarchies, rules, and regulations, effectively diffusing power away from legitimate sources of authority. This is evident in the laundering of money through local businesses, the use of import and export businesses as fronts for illicit drug trafficking, and the large amounts of money offered as gifts and donations to influential members of communities to start businesses or undertake community projects. [89] Shadow economies create economic possibilities, broker political power, establish cultures, and create new, sometimes hybrid, forms of authority. [90] In the Pacific, the lines can become blurred between the formal, and importantly, informal, and shadow economies.

The effect on the Pacific’s traditional societies is significant. Tongan church leaders believe the decreasing number of young men in church congregations is due to high levels of involvement in drug-related crime and increased usage of illicit drugs in the demographic, all of which leads to a sense of “shame” and “separation within communities”. [91] Criminal power structures, dependent on fear, money, and addiction, have contributed to the erosion of the moral authority of traditional sources of power. As one traditional Tongan leader stated:

Families are angry with young people stealing family mats et cetera to sell or swap for drugs…this shames families within communities…having a child or parent on drugs impacts the family’s status in the community…it’s not just the individual but the family which is impacted and can lead to families pulling away from village life. [92]

Conversely, robust traditional power structures, such as village authorities and the church, can be a frontline against the drug trade. Village councils in Samoa, for example, known for supporting police conducting gun amnesties, have partnered with police to bolster anti-drug campaigning. Then Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi noted in 2015 that “in some villages, they have zero tolerance for these [drug-related] activities and have imposed stiff penalties — including banishment”. [93]

However, there are limits to the effectiveness of community and church organisations in combating drug-related crime. These include moral and religious sensitivities on certain topics, and the patriarchal nature of traditional and church hierarchies that inhibits leaders from engaging with vulnerable women and girls. In other cases, village councils have also been reluctant to become involved where family members were implicated.

Health security is a human security issue

Rising drug addiction in the Pacific has contributed to an increase in mental health issues and risky sexual behaviours. Intravenous drug use has led to a rise in HIV/AIDS and other communicable diseases. [94] In Tonga, 30–40 per cent of mental health hospital admissions have been linked to drug addiction. [95] Many Pacific health systems lack the necessary resources to provide appropriate and qualified treatment to combat the addiction and the health complications caused by methamphetamine use. [96]

The Salvation Army in Tonga has seen an increasing number of women seeking drug addiction counselling, noting that rising drug use (particularly methamphetamine) has correlated with a cultural disapproval of women consuming alcohol. [97] A health advocate in Fiji cited increasing numbers of girls and young women prostituting or exchanging sexual favours for drugs. [98] Teachers and parents in Tonga, for example, have reported that “the use of [methamphetamine] in Tonga is rampant — to the point where dealers are encouraging kids to try it because they know they’ll have a client for life”. [99]

Drug awareness, recovery, and rehabilitation programs are either non-existent or ill-equipped to respond to the rapid increase in drug addiction. The Salvation Army Alcohol and Drugs Awareness Centre (ADAC) conducts the only recovery and rehabilitation program in Tonga. In 2018, ADAC reported the average age of people committing alcohol and drug-related crime was 15, compared with 22 in 2000, and 49 in 1950. [100] The Samoan addiction services program, funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, has worked with more than 330 clients between 2018 and 2019. [101]

There is also a clear correlation between drug usage and domestic violence; and the incidence of drug-related domestic violence in the Pacific is rising. Survivors and their families are often intimidated into silence — not just by the perpetrators, but also by their affiliates. [102] The rise of methamphetamine use has also increased the severity and brutality of the violence. [103] As Ned Cook, leader at Tonga's Salvation Army ADAC, stated in February 2019: “We are used to dealing with alcohol-related violence; drug-related violence is completely different, we are unprepared.” [104] Ned Cook was murdered in Nuku’alofa, Tonga, on 17 May 2020. As the only trained drug counsellor in Tonga with expertise in methamphetamine abuse and recovery, Cook was on the frontline of Tonga’s war on drugs. As he increasingly confronted the drug trade, the death threats against him multiplied. His murder reflects the scale and complexity of challenges that Tonga confronts in addressing drug crime. [105]

Recognising the growing threat of the Pacific drug trade as well as other transnational crimes, the region has rapidly elevated its response over the past three years. However, limited policing capacity means that those responses are often insufficient. [106] As Fiji’s Commissioner of Police, Brigadier General Sitiveni Qiliho, argues: “Just as crime is borderless, our approach therefore must not be confined to our borders, but aligned to a regional and international level if we are to effectively combat serious and transnational crime.” [107]

Regional security architecture

A range of regional mechanisms have been established to combat transnational crime, including the 2018 Boe Declaration on Regional Security, the Pacific Transnational Crime Network, and the Pacific Methamphetamine Action Plan. The Boe Declaration recognises transnational crime as one of four primary security threats to the region, as did earlier regional security declarations, [108] although their limited success demonstrates the need for corresponding national policies and political will. The Boe Declaration’s Action Plan [109] may prove better at aligning regional and national-level efforts. It identifies eight proposed actions to combat transnational crime in the Pacific, ranging from strengthening national capacities to increasing information sharing. [110]

Tonga’s national-level response is an example. In June 2019, Tonga requested assistance from the PIF Secretariat to draft its national drug policy. This is the first time a Forum member has requested assistance from the PIF to address drug-related issues and is a test case for both PIF leadership and oversight in supporting national-level policy and legislative initiatives.

Regional governance

Governance and implementation of the Boe Declaration Action Plan is overseen by several regional organisations. The Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police (PICP) is the umbrella organisation representing 21 Pacific countries and territories with its secretariat based in Wellington, New Zealand. 

The Pacific Transnational Crime Network (PTCN) consists of 28 Transnational Crime Units located across 20 Pacific countries, and leads regional efforts on transnational crime. The PTCN is supported by the Australian Federal Police and New Zealand Police. Its secretariat, the Pacific Transnational Crime Coordination Centre (PTCCC) is based in Apia, Samoa, and performs the central coordination role of managing, enhancing, and disseminating law enforcement intelligence products produced by the PTCCC, PTCN member countries, and other international law enforcement partners. The PTCCC is tasked with producing the annual PTCN Transnational Crime Assessment to provide a broad operational-level overview of transnational crime across the region. The PTCCC also produces a suite of intelligence products to specifically inform the law enforcement community of the current trends in the Pacific. The PTCCC works closely with those law enforcement organisations that also have intelligence networks for information sharing, including the Pacific Immigration Development Community (PIDC) and the Oceania Customs Organisation (OCO). [111]

In a show of solidarity in 2018, these three organisations representing more than 60 national Pacific Islands law enforcement agencies signed a Declaration of Partnership. [112] The Declaration provides a formal foundation for collaboration to combat transnational and organised crime and enhance border security in the Pacific. Citing the Declaration, the former Executive Director of the PICP Secretariat, Superintendent Carl McLennan, emphasised the importance of collaboration:

The Declaration sends a strong and clear message of the intent of the three organisations and provides a roadmap for us to implement going forward. Now we need to ensure that we develop activities and promote a culture of multi-agency collaboration at both national and regional levels. [113]

The PICP’s Pacific Methamphetamine Action Plan sets out several key goals: improving border security by collaborating with Pacific partners and their border enforcement agencies; leveraging existing government programs and resources; and focusing on prevention by delivering training to impede — and in some Pacific Islands countries mitigate — the spread of methamphetamine within the region. [114]

The Action Plan also highlights the importance of holistic public health and community-driven responses to drug crime and addiction. However, such responses are constrained by the anaemic public health systems in the Pacific, which struggle to provide basic health services, let alone address the complex challenges of drug addiction rehabilitation and recovery.

Unlike the PTCCC, which no longer characterises criminal deportees and outlaw motorcycle gangs as rising threats, the Action Plan argues that these two groups may increase the drug trafficking threat in the region. [115] This reveals a critical disconnect in perceptions about the level and nature of threat posed by different criminal actors and a lack of trust in regional law enforcement to effectively curtail drug trafficking. This lack of trust is fuelled by frustration that the Pacific is often treated as the source of “the problem”, [116] instead of focusing on Australian and New Zealand drug markets and criminal deportee policies that enable local and transnational criminal activities.

The Transnational, Serious and Organised Crime (TSOC) Pacific Taskforce, launched in 2019 following discussions at the PICP Meeting in Nauru in August 2018, involves the AFP, New Zealand Police, Fiji Police Force, and Tonga Police. The purpose of the TSOC Pacific Taskforce is to increase targeting capabilities, improve sharing of operational intelligence, and strengthen cooperation to conduct expanded and complex investigations.

Donor responses

Australia, New Zealand, and the United States are the principal donors combating the illicit drug trade in the Pacific and have increased their assistance bilaterally to Pacific states and multilaterally through regional efforts to combat drug trafficking over the past three years.

Australia and New Zealand collectively provide support to the PICP, PTCCC, and the TSOC. Other examples include Australia’s AU$2 billion Pacific Maritime Security Program, the successor to the Pacific Patrol Boat Program, which was created in the 1980s to provide Guardian-class patrol boats to 12 Pacific countries to support maritime and aerial surveillance and interdiction. The US Drug Enforcement Administration has provided training to Fijian police and customs officials, and the US Diplomatic Security Service has provided agents from the US embassy in Suva to run drug awareness sessions with students and parents. [117] In 2019, during Operation Aiga, the US Coast Guard deployed a cutter to Samoa for six months to replace the Guardian-class Nafanua , which included ship rider arrangements and exploration of the prospect of permanent coast guard basing in American Samoa. [118]

There are also significant partners within the Pacific, albeit with a limited footprint. Fiji has a memorandum of understanding with Indonesia’s National Narcotics Board to facilitate intelligence sharing — building on earlier agreements with Indonesia to provide training and information sharing; [119] and since 2018, Fiji has sought counter-narcotics training from Chinese law enforcement. [120] While these initiatives are relatively minor compared to Australian and New Zealand programs, concerns over interoperability have been raised. [121] Chinese initiatives are also likely viewed in the broader context of strategic competition in the Pacific, however to do so potentially accords them with greater success than warranted. The intersection between transnational crime and grey-zone activities is, however, an issue that warrants increased attention.

Gaps and limitations

Despite the regional, subregional, and donor actions that draw on a “criminal justice supply-chain intervention approach” [122] to address drug-related crime, challenges remain. These range from a lack of information sharing, inadequate equipment, and limited resources to issues of local corruption and an increasingly crowded security sector.

The PTCCC has concluded that Pacific Islands law enforcement officers have a limited understanding of the drug trade and its impacts on public health, [123] which is affecting the quality of the policing and health responses.

Differing threat perceptions about the risks posed by illicit drugs among various regional and local institutions are also impairing efforts. Law enforcement and security sector specialists in Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga, and Fiji have articulated their frustration about inadequate intelligence sharing between and across agencies, [124] citing lack of reciprocation between the PTCCC and the national-level Transnational Crime Units. [125] One customs official expressed frustration with the lack of intelligence sharing even between his own national agencies, forcing him to rely on intelligence from his customs investigators rather than the police. [126] This issue is common across the region. It is unclear yet whether the addition of facilities such as the Australian-led Pacific Fusion Centre (PFC) will successfully address the challenge.

National agencies cite problems with insufficient equipment, lack of logistical support, and inadequate capacity-building efforts. With new security sector donors such as China providing assistance, interoperability gaps have opened between Australian, New Zealand, and US law enforcement and Pacific law enforcement. [127]  Joint operations with traditional partners are critical for developing capacity and cross-border interoperability, as are culturally appropriate engagement and cultural training for Australian and Pakeha New Zealand police officers.

A further deficiency is the inability to test illicit drugs, which impedes convictions. As a Tongan official stated:

For a long time, drug cases wouldn’t go to court because Pacific Island states had to pay for the drugs to be tested back in New Zealand and the cost was borne by the Pacific Island states, so only drugs from cases which they thought they would get a conviction out of would be sent back to New Zealand. This could also be used as an excuse not to prosecute officials or those with connections. [128]

Moreover, as the PTCN has identified, Pacific law enforcement agencies face systemic challenges in investigating financial crime, including money laundering. Limited resources and capacity have impeded financial investigations, increasing both the vulnerability to and likelihood of financial crime not being properly detected or reported within the region. [129]

The illicit drug trade is proving to be one of the most serious security issues facing the Pacific. The region is now both a trafficking destination and a production site — notably for local markets —as well as a thoroughfare. As a result, indigenous criminal networks have emerged in partnership with transnational criminal organisations. Moreover, the economic fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic is exacerbating existing vulnerabilities in the Pacific, which transnational criminal organisations and local crime actors are exploiting.

In response to this threat, partners, particularly Australia and New Zealand, have stepped up initiatives to counter transnational crime over the past three years. Working closely with Pacific governments and societies, the international collaboration has led to a number of significant drug hauls in the region and a growing awareness of the complexities associated with countering transnational crime in the Pacific.

The consensus among Pacific law enforcement officers, security officials, civil society, and government officials is that successful responses to transnational crime and drugs need to be Pacific-led and partner-supported. As one official argued: “No one knows the Pacific like the Pacific…this concept must be developed and driven by the Pacific with the support and expertise of the Pacific’s traditional partners.” Responses also need to be calibrated to particular circumstances in individual Pacific states. Tonga’s Chief of Defence Staff emphasised that, “the Pacific is not the arc of instability but the arc of diversity, and one solution or one approach will not work in every Pacific island”. [130]

Transnational drug crime is a protracted problem, but not one that is of the Pacific’s own making — rather the region is a casualty of the criminal greed of organised crime and the drug appetite of Australia and New Zealand. The response by Pacific states and traditional partners must be rapid, proactive, and adaptive. Conventional policing initiatives in the Pacific demonstrate that the “one size fits all” response will not work in such a diverse and intricate region. Innovative strategies are required now, or parts of the Pacific run the risk of becoming “semi-narco” regions due to their position between transnational criminal syndicates originating in Asia and the Americas, and the lucrative drug markets of Australia and New Zealand.

Dedicated to Ned Cook, Salvation Army, killed in Nuku’alofa, Tonga, 20 May 2020.

This analysis is informed by a desk-based literature review and interviews with government officials, regional and national law enforcement agencies, civil society, regional organisations, academia, and the private sector. Interviews were conducted in Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu, Samoa, Hawai’i, Australia, and New Zealand during the period November 2018 to December 2019. Due to the highly sensitive subject matter and the implications for individuals and communities, some interview participants have not been identified.

Main image: Flags from the Pacific Islands countries fly on the final day of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Nauru-Pacific Summit, 5 September 2018. On this day, PIF members signed a security agreement promoting cooperation on issues such as transnational crime, illegal fishing and cybercrime. The agreement, called the Boe Declaration, also recognised the need for joint action on “non-traditional” threats, primarily climate change (Mike Leyral/AFP via Getty Images)

[1] This analysis uses the term “transnational crime” as distinct from “transnational organised crime” following Bruinsma’s clarification that “transnational crime is not synonymous with organised crime, even when organised crime groups are very active crossing borders with their crimes. States, governments, armies or business corporations, and many entrepreneurial individuals also have a long tradition in committing and facilitating transnational crimes.” See Gerben Bruinsma, Histories of Transnational Crime (New York: Springer, 2015), Chapter 1: Criminology and Transnational Crime, 1.

[2] The Pacific Community (SPC) definition of the Pacific Islands region is used in this paper. See https://cooperation-regionale.gouv.nc/en/cooperation-pacific-cooperation-instances-and-programs/pacific-community-spc .

[3] Transnational Crime in the Pacific: A Threat Assessment, United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime, Bangkok, 9 September 2016, 8, https://www.unodc.org/documents/southeastasiaandpacific/Publications/2016/2016.09.16_TOCTA_Pacific_web.pdf .

[4] Joe McNulty, “Western and Central Pacific Ocean Fisheries and the Opportunities for Transnational Organised Crime: Monitoring, Control, and Surveillance (MCS) Operation Kurukuru”, Australian Journal of Maritime and Ocean Affairs , Vol. 5, No. 4 (2013), 145–152.

[5] The Secretary-General’s High-level Panel Report on Threats, Challenges, and Change, “A More Secure World: Our Shared Responsibility”, (New York: United Nations, 2004), 19, https://www.un.org/ruleoflaw/files/gaA.59.565_En.pdf .

[6] Secretary General Dame Meg Taylor’s Opening Remarks to the 2017 Pacific Update, (Suva: University of the South Pacific, 2018), 20 June 2017, https://www.forumsec.org/secretary-general-dame-meg-taylors-opening-remarks-to-the-2017-pacific-update/ .

[7] OECD, States of Fragility 2015, Meeting Post-2015 Ambitions (Paris: OECD Publishing, 2015), https://dx.doi.org/10.1787/9789264227699-en .

[8] Synthesis Report of the Secretary-General on the Post-2015 Sustainable Development Agenda: The Road to Dignity by 2030: Ending Poverty, Transforming All Lives and Protecting the Planet, United Nations General Assembly, New York, 4 December 2014, A/69/700, https://www.un.org/disabilities/documents/reports/SG_Synthesis_Report_Road_to_Dignity_by_2030.pdf .

[9] United Nations, The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, (New York: United Nations, 2015), https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/?menu=1300 .

[11] Simon Mackenzie, Transnational Criminology: Trafficking and Global Criminal Markets , (Bristol University Press, 2021), 21.

[12] Sandeep Chawla and Thomas Pietschmann, “Chapter Nine: Drug Trafficking as a Transnational Crime”, in Handbook of Transnational Crime & Justice , (ed) Philip Reichel, (Sage Publications Inc, 2005), 160.

[13] President Kim Jong Yang, INTERPOL, 48th Pacific Island Chiefs of Police Conference, 25 September 2019, https://www.samoanews.com/opinion/opening-remarks-interpol-president-kim-jong-yang-48th-pacific-islands-chiefs-police .

[14] Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program , Report 10, 2020, https://www.acic.gov.au/publications/national-wastewater-drug-monitoring-program-reports .

[15] Ministry of Justice, Strengthening New Zealand’s Response to Organised Crime: An All-of-Government Response , August 2001, 12, https://www.justice.govt.nz/assets/Documents/Publications/New-Zealands-response-to-Organised-Crime.pdf .

[16] Interview with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime official, Wellington, 12 August 2019.

[17] Research by the National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program, Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, Report 11, 30 June 2020, https://www.acic.gov.au/publications/national-wastewater-drug-monitoring-program-reports/report-11-national-wastewater-drug-monitoring-program .

[18] Ibid, 9. For wastewater analysis on the rise in consumption of methamphetamine and cocaine in Australia, see Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program: Report 9, 10 March 2020, https://www.acic.gov.au/publications/national-wastewater-drug-monitoring-program-reports/national-wastewater-drug-monitoring-program-report-09-2020 ; for similar findings on methamphetamine usage in New Zealand, see New Zealand Police, National Wastewater Testing Programme Quarter 2, 2019, https://www.police.govt.nz/about-us/publication/national-wastewater-testing-programme-quarter-2-2019 ; and New Zealand, Ministry of Health, Annual Update of Key Results 2019/20: New Zealand Health Survey, 14 November 2019, https://www.health.govt.nz/publication/annual-update-key-results-2019-20-new-zealand-health-survey .

[19] Interview with Fijian law enforcement officer, Nadi, March 2020.

[20] Pacific Transnational Crime Network, Transnational Crime Assessment 2017–2018 , 3.

[21] Ibid, 9

[22] “Milne Bay Drug Bust, 7 Jailed”, PNG Report , 6 January 2019, https://www.pngreport.com/community/news/1353711/milne-bay-drug-bust-7-jailed .

[23] Australian Federal Police, “Organised Crime Syndicate Charged and More than 500kg of Cocaine Seized in PNG”, 1 August 2020, https://www.afp.gov.au/news-media/media-releases/organised-crime-syndicate-charged-and-more-500kg-cocaine-seized-png .

[24] Pacific Transnational Crime Network, Transnational Crime Assessment 2017-2018.

[26] Interview with Pacific Islands security sector official, Suva, Fiji, 11 September 2019.

[27] Interview with New Zealand Police officer, Wellington, 20 November 2018. See also “Six in Court over Record Fiji Drug Haul”, New Zealand Herald , 11 June 2004, https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=3572070 .

[28] Sue Windybank, “The Illegal Pacific Part 1: Organised Crime”, Policy , Winter 2008, Vol. 24, No.1, 32–38.

[29] “Fijian Drug Taskforce Gets US Help”, Radio New Zealand Pacific, 19 July 2019, https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/394745/fijian-drug-taskforce-gets-us-help .

[30] “A Look inside One of Tonga’s Five Major Drug Syndicates, as P Ravages the Kingdom”, TVNZ, 10 December 2018, https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/world/1-news-exclusive-look-inside-one-tonga-s-five-major-drug-syndicates-p-ravages-kingdom .

[31] “Ghost Boat Carrying 1,400 Pounds of Cocaine Washes up on Remote Pacific Island”, CNN, 17 December 2020, https://kion546.com/news/national-world/2020/12/17/ghost-boat-carrying-1400-pounds-of-cocaine-washes-up-on-remote-pacific-island/ .

[32] Ferdie De La Torre, “DEA: Sablan Admits to Cooking ‘Ice’”, Saipan Tribune , 19 March 2018, https://www.saipantribune.com/index.php/dea-sablan-admits-cooking-ice/ .

[33] “Possible Meth or Ice Labs Operating in PNG”, Post Courier , 6 August 2020, https://postcourier.com.pg/possible-meth-or-ice-labs-operating-in-png/ .

[34] Legislative Assembly of Tonga, Illicit Drugs Control (Amendment) Act 2020, https://ago.gov.to/cms/images/LEGISLATION/AMENDING/2020/2020-0123/IllicitDrugsControlAmendmentAct2020.pdf .

[35] “Tonga Pushes through Tough New Drug Laws”, Radio New Zealand, 27 October 2020, https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/429259/tonga-pushes-through-tough-new-drug-laws .

[36] Pacific Transnational Crime Network, Transnational Crime Assessment 2017–2018 , 6.

[37] Interview with Tongan law enforcement official, Nuku’alofa, 26 February 2019.

[38] Statistics on offences for the period 2016–2019 provided by the Attorney General’s Office, Tonga, 25 February 2019.

[39] Interview with Tongan Attorney General’s Office official, Nuku’alofa, Tonga, 25 February 2019.

[41] Barbara Dreaver, “Tonga's Children Targeted by Meth Dealers Looking to Gain 'A Client for Life’”, 1NEWS, 10 December 2018, https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/world/1-news-special-report-tongas-children-targeted-meth-dealers-looking-gain-client-life .

[42] Barbara Dreaver, “Tonga Steps up War on Meth Trade with Multiple Arrests, over 30kg of Drug Seized”, 1NEWS, 22 July 2019, https://www.1news.co.nz/2019/07/22/tonga-steps-up-war-on-meth-trade-with-multiple-arrests-over-30kg-of-drug-seized/ .

[43] Takashi Riku, Ryuichi Shibasaki, and Hironori Kato, “Pacific Islands: Small and Dispersed ‘Sea-locked’ Islands”, in Ryuichi Shibasaki, Hironori Kato, and Cesar Ducruet (eds), Global Logistics Network Modelling and Policy: Quantification and Analysis for International Freight , (Elsevier: 2020), 276.

[45] “Fiji’s High Tide”, SBS Dateline, 2020, Episode 3, 10 March 2020, https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/video/1702315075823 .

[46] Anna Leask, “Kiwi at Centre of Huge Sydney Drug Bust: Hundreds of Kilos of Meth Intercepted on Yacht”, New Zealand Herald , 19 April 2020, https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12325875 .

[47] Kate Lyons, “Bust in Budi: The Day a Fisherman Hauled in $50m Worth of Cocaine”, The Guardian , 25 June 2019, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jun/24/bust-in-budi-budi-the-day-a-fisherman-hauled-in-50m-worth-of-cocaine .

[48] Pacific Transnational Crime Network, Transnational Crime Assessment 2017–2018 , 16.

[49] Ibid, 15.

[50] Interview with regional security sector official, 2019.

[51] Pacific Transnational Crime Network, Transnational Crime Assessment 2017–2018 , 16.

[52] Stephen Drill and David Hurley, “Bikie Drug Lords’ Deadly Network Expands Overseas”, Herald Sun , 16 November 2014, https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/bikie-drug-lords-deadly-network-expands-overseas/news-story/3e0b37a19d489fc85e6e3fb03c9133b2 .

[53] Pacific Transnational Crime Network, Transnational Crime Assessment 2017–2018 , 16.

[54] Katrina Tanirau, “Cook Islands Stops NZ Leader because of Gang Connections”, New Zealand Herald , 8 December, 2019, https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/cook-islands-stops-nz-leader-because-of-gang-connections/UB4B757KFHRFQDAA7D5S2PMEJE/ .

[55] Pacific Transnational Crime Network, Transnational Crime Assessment 2017–2018.

[56] Government of Samoa, Samoa National Security Policy: Building a Secure and Resilient Nation (2018), Ministry of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Apia, 21, https://pacificsecurity.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/2018-Samoa-National-Security-Policy-2018.pdf .

[57] ABC News ‘Mexican drug cartel infiltrates Australia’, 15 September 2019. Available at https://www.abc.net.au/news/2010-09-15/mexican-drug-cartel-infiltrates-australia/2260782 .

[58] R Evan Ellis, “Chinese Organized Crime in Latin America”, Prism , Volume 4. No. 1, 2012, https://cco.ndu.edu/Portals/96/Documents/prism/prism_4-1/prism64-77_ellis.pdf .

[59] Pacific Transnational Crime Network, Transnational Crime Assessment 2017–2018, 17.

[60] Natalia Pereira, “Pacific Island Nations, Criminal Deportees, and Reintegration Challenges”, Migration Policy Institute, 7 November 2014, https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/pacific-island-nations-criminal-deportees-and-reintegration-challenges .

[61] Australian Department of Home Affairs, Key Visa Cancellation Statistics, https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/research-and-statistics/statistics/visa-statistics/visa-cancellation .

[62] American Samoa, Fiji, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu.

[63] New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Response to OIA request, (Wellington. New Zealand, 2018), 15 August 2018, https://fyi.org.nz/request/8355/response/27359/attach/4/DOIA%201819%200100%20FINAL%20Response%20Letter.pdf .

[64] US Department of Homeland Security, Office of Immigration Statistics, 2013 Yearbook of Immigration Statistics (Washington, DC: DHS Office of Immigration Statistics, 2014), www.dhs.gov/yearbook-immigration-statistics-2013-enforcement-actions .

[65] US Department of Homeland Security, Office of Immigration Statistics, 2018 Yearbook of Immigration Statistics (Washington, DC: DHS Office of Immigration Statistics, 2019), https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/immigration-statistics/yearbook/2018/yearbook_immigration_statistics_2018.pdf .

[66] Pacific Transnational Crime Network, Transnational Crime Assessment 2017–2018 , 17.

[67] Interviews, Apia, Samoa, 22 August 2019; Nuku’alofa, Tonga, 27 February 2019.

[68] “Missing Man Believed to be Australian Deportee”, Matangi Tonga Online , 28 December 2016, https://matangitonga.to/2016/12/28/missing-man-bellieved-be-australian-deportee .

[69] Interview with Tongan deportee, Nuku’alofa, Tonga, 27 February 2019.

[70] Leanne Weber and Rebecca Powell, “Ripples across the Pacific: Cycles of Risk and Exclusion Following Criminal Deportation to Samoa”, in Shahram Khosravi (ed), After Deportation: Ethnographic Perspectives , (Global Ethics Series, Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan, 2018).

[71] For example, from the United States alone, street gangs such as the Tongan Crip Gang (TCG), the Sons of Samoa (SOS), Tongan Style Gangsters (TSG), Salt Lake Posse (Tongans and Samoans), Park Village Crip (PVC), Samoan Pride Gangsters (SPG), the Baby Regulators, and Park Village Compton Crips have all had members deported back to the Pacific.

[72] Pacific Transnational Crime Network, Transnational Crime Assessment 2017–2018 , 17 ; Interview with Tongan police officer, Nuku’alofa, Tonga, 27 February 2019.

[73] Tim Fadgen, Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand’s Deportation Policy and Practice in Regional Context, Australian Outlook, Australian Institute of International Affairs, 20 April 2021, https://www.internationalaffairs.org.au/australianoutlook/australia-and-aotearoa-new-zealands-deportation-policy-and-practice-in-regional-context/ ; Henrietta McNeill, “Oceania’s ‘Crimmigration Creep’: Are Deportation and Reintegration Norms being Diffused?”, Journal of Criminology , Vol. 54, No. 3, 305–322.

[74] Natalie Pereira, Return[ed] to Paradise. The Deportation Experience in Samoa and Tonga, Policy Papers 21, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.

[75] Pacific Transnational Crime Network, Transnational Crime Assessment 2017–2018 , 17.

[76] Interview with Pacific Islands official, Suva, 2019.

[77] Interview with Tongan civil society member, Nuku’alofa, Tonga, 27 February 2019.

[78] “Immigration New Zealand Loses Track of Someone Due to be Deported to Pacific”, 1NEWS, 30 July 2021 https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/immigration-new-zealand-loses-track-someone-due-deported-pacific .

[79] Jose Sousa-Santos, “Profiteering from the Pandemic: COVID-19, Crime and Vulnerability in the Pacific”, Asia & the Pacific Policy Society, Policy Forum, 30 July 2020, https://www.policyforum.net/profiteering-from-the-pandemic/ .

[80] Danielle Watson and Sinclair Dinnen, “History, Adaptation and Adoption Problematised”, in Sara N Amin, Danielle Watson, and Christian Girard (eds), Mapping Security in the Pacific: A Focus on Context, Gender and Organisational Culture , (Routledge: New York, 2020).

[81] “Tongan Police Arrest Customs Official after Drug Bust”, Radio New Zealand International Pacific, 27 April 2019, https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/387885/tongan-police-arrest-customs-official-after-drug-bust .

[82] Interview with Tongan customs officer, Nuku’alofa, Tonga, 28 February 2019.

[85] Barbara Dreaver, “Tonga Steps up War on Meth Trade with Multiple Arrests, over 30kg of Drug Seized, 1NEWS, 22 July 2019, https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/world/tonga-steps-up-war-meth-trade-multiple-arrests-over-30kg-drug-seized .

[86] “Manning to Rid Constabulary of ‘Criminals in Uniform’”, Post Courier , 10 September 2020, https://postcourier.com.pg/manning-to-rid-constabulary-of-criminals-in-uniform/ .

[87] “Fiji’s High Tide”, SBS Dateline, 2020, Episode 3, 10 March 2020, https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/video/1702315075823 .

[88] Interview with senior Tongan health official, Ministry of Health, Nuku’alofa, Tonga, 27 February 2019.

[89] Interviews with law enforcement officials in Suva and Nadi, Fiji, Port Moresby Papua New Guinea, and Nuku’alofa, Tonga.

[90] Carolyn Nordstrom, Shadows of War: Violence, Power, and International Profiteering in the Twenty-first Century , (University of California Press: 2004).

[91] Interview with Tongan church leader, Nuku’alofa, Tonga, 28 February 2019.

[92] Interview with Tongan community leader, Nuku’alofa, Tonga, 28 February 2019.

[93] Nanai Laveitiga Tuiletufuga, “Police Urged to Remain Vigilant in Anti-drug Crusade”, Inini Samoa , 25 September 2015, [no longer available online], http://www.ininisamoa.com/2015/09/25/police-urged-to-remain-vigilant-in-anti-drug-crusade/ .

[94] Interview with Ned Cook, Salvation Army, Nuku’alofa, Tonga, 28 February 2019.

[95] Interview with senior Tongan health official, Ministry of Health, Nuku’alofa, Tonga, 27 February 2019 .

[96] Pacific Transnational Crime Network, Transnational Crime Assessment 2017–2018 , 7.

[97] Email communication with Ned Cook, Salvation Army, 28 April 2019.

[98] Interview with health advocate, Suva, Fiji, 2019.

[99] Barbara Dreaver, “Tonga's Children Targeted by Meth Dealers”.

[100] Email communication with Ned Cook, Salvation Army, 28 April 2019. In 2018, 92 per cent of clients were male and eight per cent female. The youngest client was 13 years and the oldest 63.

[101] Interview with health advocate, Apia, Samoa, 20 August 2019.

[102] Women and Children Crisis Centre Director Ofa Guttenbeil-Likikiliki talking on Radio New Zealand International Pacific, Koroi Hawkins, “Drug-related Domestic Violence on the Rise in Tonga”, Radio New Zealand, 29 January 2020, https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/408403/drug-related-domestic-violence-on-the-rise-in-tonga .

[103] Interview with health advocate, Suva, 10 September 2019.

[104] Interview with Ned Cook, Salvation Army, Nuku’alofa, Tonga, 28 February 2019.

[105] Ibid.

[106] Danielle Watson, Jose Sousa-Santos, and Loene M Howes, “Transnational and Organised Crime in Pacific Island Countries and Territories: Police Capacity to Respond to the Emerging Security Threat”, in Pamela Thomas and Meg Keen (eds), Perspectives on Pacific Security: Future Currents , Development Bulletin 82, Australian National University, February 2021, 151–155.

[107] Waisea Nasokia, “Qiliho: Pacific to Combine Resources to Fight Drug Cartels”, Fiji Sun , 19 September 2018, https://fijisun.com.fj/2018/09/19/qiliho-pacific-to-combine-resources-to-fight-drug-cartels/ .

[108] The Honiara Declaration (1992) on Law Enforcement Cooperation; the Aitutaki Declaration (1997) on Regional Security Cooperation; and the Nasonini Declaration (2002) on Regional Security.

[109] Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Boe Declaration Action Plan , Suva, 2019, https://www.forumsec.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/BOE-document-Action-Plan.pdf .

[110] Ibid, 13–15.

[111] Joanne Wallis et al, Mapping Security Cooperation in the Pacific Islands , Research Report, (Canberra: Australian National University, 2021), http://dpa.bellschool.anu.edu.au/sites/default/files/publications/attachments/2021-06/mapping_security_cooperation_in_pacific_islands_dpa_research_report_2021_joanne_wallis_henrietta_mcneill_james_batley_anna_powles_updated.pdf .

[112] Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police, Declaration of Partnership, 2018, Our Blue Pacific: Safer Together , https://picp.co.nz/2018/09/07/picp-sign-declaration-of-partnership/ .

[113] Ibid.

[114] Pacific Transnational Crime Network, Transnational Crime Assessment 2017–2018.

[115] Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police, Pacific Methamphetamine Action Plan , 2018.

[116] Interview with Tongan official, Nuku’alofa, Tonga, 29 February 2019.

[117] “Fijian Drug Taskforce Gets US Help”, 19 July 2019, Radio New Zealand, https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/394745/fijian-drug-taskforce-gets-us-help ; and “US Embassy in Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga, and Tuvalu, “US Sponsoring Methamphetamine Drug Enforcement Training”, 10 September 2018, https://fj.usembassy.gov/slide/u-s-sponsoring-methamphetamine-drug-enforcement-training/ .

[118] “US Wants Cutters in Territories to Counter Chinese Activity”, Radio New Zealand, 27 October 2020, https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/429235/us-wants-cutters-in-territories-to-counter-chinese-activity .

[119] A Kumar, China’s Alternate Indo–Pacific Policy , (Delhi: Prashant Publishing House, 2018).

[120] “Fiji Police Turn to China for Drones and Narcotics Training”, Radio New Zealand, 1 May 2018, https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/356337/fiji-police-turn-to-china-for-drones-and-narcotics-training .

[121] Interviews with officials, Suva and Apia.

[122] Mackenzie, Transnational Criminology , 21.

[123] Pacific Transnational Crime Network, Transnational Crime Assessment 2017–2018.

[124] Interviews with law enforcement officers, Port Moresby, Apia, and Nuku’alofa.

[125] Ibid.

[126] Interview with Papua New Guinean customs officer, Port Moresby, 23 September 2019.

[127] Interviews with law enforcement officers, Port Moresby, Apia, and Nuku’alofa.

[128] Interview with Tongan official, Nuku’alofa, Tonga, 29 February 2019

[129] Pacific Transnational Crime Network, Transnational Crime Assessment 2017–2018.

[130] Interview with Brigadier General Lord Fielakepa, Chief of Defence Staff, His Majesty’s Armed Forces, Nuku’alofa, Tonga, 28 February 2019

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Essay on Drug Addiction | Drug Addiction Essay for Students and Children in English

February 12, 2024 by Veerendra

Essay on Drug Addiction: Addiction refers to the harmful need to consume substances that have damaging consequences on the user. Addiction affects not just the body but also on the person’s mental health and soundness of mind. Addiction is one of the most severe health problems faced around the world and is termed as a chronic disease. A widespread disorder ranges from drugs, alcohol addiction to gambling, and even phone addiction.

You can read more  Essay Writing  about articles, events, people, sports, technology many more.

One of the most unfortunate yet common addictions that affect millions today is drug addiction. Also referred to as substance – use disorder, it is the addiction to substances that harm neurological functioning and a person’s behavior. The essay provides relevant information on this topic.

Long and Short Essay on Drug Addiction in English for Students and Kids

There are two essays listed below. The long essay consists of 500 words and a short essay of 200 words.

Long Essay on Drug Addiction in English 500 words

Drug addiction, also known as substance–use disorder, refers to the dangerous and excessive intake of legal and illegal drugs. This leads to many behavioral changes in the person as well as affects brain functions. Drug addiction includes abusing alcohol, cocaine, heroin, opioid, painkillers, and nicotine, among others. Drugs like these help the person feel good about themselves and induce ‘dopamine’ or the happiness hormone. As they continue to use the drug, the brain starts to increase dopamine levels, and the person demands more.

Drug addiction has severe consequences. Some of the signs include anxiety, paranoia, increased heart rate, and red eyes. They are intoxicated and unable to display proper coordination and have difficulty in remembering things. A person who is addicted cannot resist using them and unable to function correctly without ingesting them. It causes damage to the brain, their personal and professional relationships. It affects mental cognition; they are unable to make proper decisions, cannot retain information, and make poor judgments. They tend to engage in reckless activities such as stealing or driving under the influence. They also make sure that there is a constant supply and are willing to pay a lot of money even if they are unable to afford it and tend to have erratic sleep patterns.

Drug addiction also causes a person to isolate themselves and have either intense or no food cravings. They stop taking care of their hygiene. Drug addiction affects a person’s speech and experience hallucinations. They are unable to converse and communicate properly; they speak fast and are hyperactive. Those addicted have extreme mood swings. They can go from feeling happy to feeling sad quickly and are incredibly secretive. They begin to lose interest in activities they once loved. Substance abusers also undergo withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms refer to the symptoms that occur when they stop taking the drug. Some withdrawal symptoms include nausea, fatigue, and tremors. They stop and starting using again, an endless cycle that could be life-threatening. Drug addiction can be fatal if not treated timely. It can cause brain damage and seizures as well as overdose, heart diseases, respiratory problems, damage to the liver and kidneys, vomiting, lung diseases, and much more.

Though chronic, treatment is available for drug addiction. Many techniques are used, such as behavioral counseling, medication to treat the addiction, and providing treatment not just for substance abuse but also for many factors that accompany addiction such as stress, anxiety, and depression. Many devices have developed to overcome addiction. There are rehabilitation centers to help people. After treatment, there are numerous follow-ups to ensure that the cycle does not come back. The most important is having family and friends to support the effect. It will help them build confidence and come over their addiction.

The United Nations celebrates International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on the 26th of June. Drug addiction impacts millions and needs to be treated carefully to prevent further harm to the individual and letting them live a better life.

Short Essay on Drug Addiction in English 250 words

Drug addiction refers to taking substances that are harmful to our bodies. They cause changes to a person’s behavior as well. Many people take these drugs to feel happier and better about themselves. These dangerous substances make the brain produce a chemical that makes us happy, called dopamine. Producing large amounts of these causes the person to take the drug consistently.

Some of the drugs include alcohol, nicotine, and other unhealthy substances. Taking these substances can lead to many symptoms. These include unable to think correctly, cannot remember things, and unable to speak clearly. They steal and keep secrets from their close ones. Those addicted cannot sleep; they become happy and sad quickly. They stop doing the activities that they liked doing. They are not aware of their surroundings. Taking these dangerous substances can cause many health problems such as vomiting, unable to breathe, brain, and lung damage. It also affects their family, friends, and work.

Drug addiction is life-threatening. However, people with this addiction can be treated and helped with therapy, counseling, and taking medicines along with rehab centers. They do follow-ups to ensure that they never retake these drugs. They must have their family and friends to support them as they recover.

10 lines About Drug Addiction Essay in English

• Drug addiction refers to taking harmful substances that affect a person’s brain functions and behavior. It involves taking legal and illegal drugs, and the person is unable to stop using them. It is also referred to as substance- use disorders
• Harmful drugs include alcohol, cocaine, heroin, opioids, painkillers, nicotine, etc.
• The harmful drugs cause an excessive release of dopamine or the happy hormone, which causes the person to take more.
• Drug addiction can affect mental cognition, including decision making, judgments, and memory. It also causes speech problems.
• It can cause anxiety paranoia and increased blood pressure. They have erratic sleep patterns and isolate themselves. It causes problems in their personal and professional relationships.
• Those addicted become moody, hyperactive, and hallucinate. They also engage in reckless activities.
• They experience withdrawal symptoms when they try to stop using substances. These include nausea, fatigue, and tremors.
• It can have many effects on the body, such as brain damage, seizures, liver and kidney damage, respiratory and lung issues.
• Treatment is available. It includes behavioral therapy, medication, rehabilitation, as well as a follow-up to prevent relapse.
• The United Nations celebrates International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on the 26th of June.

Frequently Asked Questions on Drug Addiction Essay

Question  1. What is drug addiction?

Answer: Drug addiction, also known as substance – use disorder, refers to the dangerous and excessive intake of legal and illegal drugs. This leads to many behavioral changes in the person as well as affects brain functions.

Question 2. Why does drug addiction occur?

Answer: People become addicted to these drugs because they want to feel happier. The drugs cause a chemical called dopamine, which induces happiness to be released. The brain starts to increase dopamine levels, and thus the person becomes addicted to the drug to match the increasing levels.

Question 3. What is the difference between dependence and addiction?

Answer: Dependence and addiction vary. While dependence is an intense craving for the drug by the body, addiction also refers to the changes in behavior and bodily functions due to repeated use of the drug, which has severe consequences.

Question 4. Can we treat drug addiction?

Answer: Yes, drug addiction can be treated. The various treatment methods are behavioral counseling, medication, and treatment of anxiety and depression. There are rehabilitation centers available. This is followed by a check-up to prevent relapse.

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Drug Trafficking - Free Essay Examples and Topic Ideas

Illegal drugs and narcotics are some of the most dangerous substances available to humanity, both to individual users and whole societies. These drugs not only have adverse effects on users but inherently affect those who are around drugs either directly or indirectly. A fundamental concern with drugs other than the users is that being in the business of drugs is extremely lucrative, especially in the markets with popular drugs. This tempting opportunity essentially spawned the entire network of drug trafficking that exists today, which can be defined as “the illegal production and distribution of controlled substances”. As a result, there is now an expansive system of drug trafficking across the globe supplying substances through a variety of methods. This poses a challenge as undoing such a far-reaching influence is not easy. Drug trafficking is such a significant issue around the world because it is very widespread, commonplace, highly profitable, controversial, and strenuous to eliminate.

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• How Drug Trafficking Impacts The Economy and The World at Large
• The Challenges of Drug Tracking, Slaves and Guns in The U.s Between 1600 and 1860
• How Luis Carlos Galan Was Killed in Colombia
• World Issues: Drug Trafficking
• A Study of The Life of Andres and Pablo Escobar as Depicted in The Jeff Zimbalist Movie The Two Escobar
• Describing Pablo Escobar’s Legend
• Drug Abuse as a Social Problem
• Terrorism and Drug Trafficking at The South American Borders
• Report on Drug Smuggling
• Mexican Drug Cartel Exploiting Immigrants to Smuggle Drugs into The U.s.
• The Drug Trade as the Cause of Police Brutality in Brazil
• The causes and effects of drug abuse amongst the youth
• The Correlation Between Adult Drug Abusers and Children
• The Link Between Terrorism and Drug Trafficking
• God is Dead and Vince Gilligan Killed Him Drug
• The Issue of Drug Trafficking on a Global Scale
• How The Impact of Globalization on Illicit Drug Trafficking Has Affected International Security
• Drug Trafficking in The Republic of Colombia
• Different Approached on Drug Legislation: The Cultural Implications
• Mercury Drug
• Tackling The Menace Drug Trafficking
• The Problem of Drug Trafficking in The Kingdom of Bhutan
• Film Review: Traffic by Steven Soderbergh
• The Consequences of Drug Abuse in Saudi Arabia

Before drug history and situation in the US

Before drug trafficking could become an issue, drugs themselves would have to become an issue first. Illegal drugs, narcotics and opioids have been around for a very long time, and substances as old as opium or drugs as new as pills were created, became popular, and thus began a need for production and distribution. In regards to how drug trafficking reached the U.S, the same process can be applied. Drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, and heroin, which were in the past “the most heavily used substances” (Notecard #3) in the U.S, were brought over and individuals tried it and wanted more. The simple craving of a substance is all it takes for the power of drug trafficking to take its grip. However, drug trafficking is a double edged sword that must be taken into consideration. Many of the highly addictive drugs that people are hooked onto are often prescribed at one point for medical purposes, and these drugs can’t be necessarily phased out as they do serve a legitimate purpose. It’s the risk of addiction that then leads individuals to pursue other sources for drugs, more than likely drug dealers supplied by traffickers.

Once drugs have become a fully established problem in a given society or area, there is then a foundation of people who can take in a supply of drugs, making imports possible. Such an example, and a rather stunning one, would be the America, as the “U.S is the largest market” (Notecard #2) for illegal drugs. Such a title is not very flattering, but at the same time should not be entirely surprising. As the demand for drugs in the U.S grew, so would methods of bringing them in. When America had a raging problem with heroin between the 1950s-1970s, mafias such as the New York Mafia would distribute as much as 95% of their imports, later to be known as “The French Connection” (Notecard #4). This problem would only persist and grow after the inclusion of foreign nations, such as Mexico and nations in South America. One specific case is one of the methods of import to the U.S via Mexico, which is when “drugs come into the U.S through the Pacific Ocean being exported through Baja California to California” (Notecard #6). Some further examples also include the Colombian “Medellin Cartel” which was “one of the biggest cocaine exports to the U.S during the 1980s, and the Colombian routes which had to shift to Mexican routers to smuggle drugs “as more attention was drawn to Colombia’s routes through South Florida”

Gangs and cartels

Inherently, gangs being what they are, had a particular knack for the illegal drug business and it’s potentially high payout. Gangs are nothing new in the United states, and “have long been established in the U.S, dating back to the 1800s” (Notecard #8). Once these gangs began to see the potential behind trafficking drugs, “gang members began taking part in drug trafficking” around the late 20th century. This problem would only begin to grow somewhat linearly as drugs were not going anywhere, and the money behind the substances was surely still flooding the streets. Drugs and gangs worked together in tandem as illegal business was a norm, and gangs could make very high amounts of money from production, distribution, and/or sales. Furthermore, the financial opportunity offered by drugs not only helped gangs grow and expand in influence, but in their numbers as well. From 2002-2008, “gang numbers increased by 28.4%” (Notecard #10) and is with reason: many people seeking to get out of poverty would joing gangs with the promise of making money through drug trafficking.

Alongside with gangs, cartels were also a major factor in the movement of drugs across America. Cartels being as widespread and expansive as they were (and still are), hundreds of complex routes and networks had to be created to facilitate the movement of drugs. For example, “most of the cocaine entering the U.S went from the Caribbean to South Florida” (Notecard #14) during the 1980s in what was known to be the Caribbean Corridor. In addition to main routes, there would also be a large variety of different small-scale operations and runners who would transport drugs as well. This can be seen through Nigeria’s role in trafficking heroin as they “recruit smugglers to do the work for them” (Notecard #29)

However, making money through drugs did get progressively harder as federal agencies around the world began to find way to crack down on the trafficking world. Gangs, cartels and any organization involved in earning high amounts of illegal money through drugs have to “clean” the money, otherwise risk getting easily tracked and caught. To do this said cleaning, money laundering is introduced, said to be “the way to hide the fact people earn so much money on illegal drugs” (Notecard #26). Money laundering is key to all of these if organizations if they wish to keep a low profile and actually use the money they have earned illegally. Laundering is done when the money gained “can be invested or placed in a bank, and the money appears to be earned legally” (Notecard #27). In its most basic form, laundering is essentially a way of getting rid of the “dirty” money by buying/investing things, and getting money back by selling or profiting from the purchases/investments. Moreover, as technology around the world continues to increase and become more advanced, so do traffickers. New forms of technology allows for things like “encryption of messages” (Notecard #28) to hide trafficker’s tracks and make it more difficult to find them.

After all the talk of traffickers and their potentially ridiculous amount of profit from drugs, it seems that they are unstoppable in their pursuit of money. But that is not necessarily the case, as a “war on drugs” is ongoing around the world through different agencies and entities, all trying to shut down these illegal businesses. These conflicts have been going on almost as long as trafficking itself, and with good reason. Even after years of combating traffickers, entities such as cartels would still bring back the fight by killing people and terrorizing communities to “prove their power and gain control” (Notecard #17). Issues such as these escalated to such violent levels that countries like Mexico had to ask the United States for assistance in battling the cartels. The U.S had to intervene not only out of assistance, but also because the issue with cartels and drugs began to reach the frontiers in America as well. This same war on drugs was also approached with diplomatic solutions, such as with the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). The main goal of this agency, originally made in 1989 under President George H.W Bush, was to “establish policies, priorities and objectives” (Notecard #20) and to work “with federal agencies like the U.S Custom Service to control drug trafficking”. In addition, the ONDCP serves to remind “people of the dangers of drugs and the abuse of them”. These methods, among many others, are some of the ways this growing issue is being repelled.

The growing issue with drug trafficking has become so large that it has reached every virtual corner of society around the world. With a growing list of drugs and more money coming into the equation, a growing number of people are falling into the pit of drug trafficking, whether directly or indirectly. Just one particular example: “More than a half of American students try an illicit drug by their senior year” (Notecard #25). This an undeniable fact that society is being affected by one of the most threatening substances and businesses in the world, and things need to change before tragedies such as Switzerland’s heroin crisis become a global norm.

Works Cited

• Doak, Melissa J. ‘Violence and Gangs.’ Growing Up: Issues Affecting America’s Youth, 2011 ed., Gale, 2011. Information Plus Reference Series. Opposing Viewpoints in Context,http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ1529300108/OVIC?u=j057909&sid=OVIC&xid=385f22e8. Accessed 19 Dec. 2018.
• ‘DOC: Drug Trafficking.’ Current Issues: Macmillian Social Science Library, Macmillan Reference USA, 2003. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A127365955/OVIC?u=j057909&sid=OVIC&xid=b5cf77ae. Accessed 19 Dec. 2018.
• ‘High Stakes on the High Seas.’ NYTimes.com Video Collection, 28 Oct. 2015. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/CT433666372/OVIC?u=j057909&sid=OVIC&xid=fb2f892e. Accessed 19 Dec. 2018.
• ‘Drugs and Narcotics.’ American Law Yearbook 2012: A Guide to the Year’s Major Legal Cases and Developments, Gale, 2013, pp. 41-46. Opposing Viewpoints in Context,http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/CX2018000026/OVIC?u=j057909&sid=OVIC&xid=d2b25059. Accessed 19 Dec. 2018.
• Horn, Michael T. ‘Drug Trafficking Contributes to Organized Crime.’ Drug Trafficking, edited by Auriana Ojeda, Greenhaven Press, 2002. Current Controversies. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ3010043248/OVIC?u=j057909&sid=OVIC&xid=1fd2047b. Accessed 19 Dec. 2018. Originally published as ‘testimony before the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Peace Corps, Narcotics, and Terrorism,’ 1997.
• ‘Introduction to Mexico’s Drug War: At Issue.’ Mexico’s Drug War, edited by Margaret Haerens, Greenhaven Press, 2014. At Issue. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ3010881101/OVIC?u=j057909&sid=OVIC&xid=55db57b9. Accessed 19 Dec. 2018.
• ‘Ocean Smuggling from Mexico to United States.’ Tribune Content Agency Graphics, 2011. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/CT3294260956/OVIC?u=j057909&sid=OVIC&xid=bcdb678f. Accessed 19 Dec. 2018.
• ‘Tunneling Under the Border with Mexico.’NYTimes.com Video Collection, 1 Sept. 2016. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/CT462771980/OVIC?u=j057909&sid=OVIC&xid=911917b4. Accessed 19 Dec. 2018.

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Expository Essay On Drug Abuse In Nigeria (450 Words)

Introduction.

The issue of drug abuse among Nigerian youths has reached alarming levels, posing a significant threat to public health and security. The prevalence of hard drug usage, including substances like Syrup, tramadol, Diazepam, cocaine, and Shisha mix, among others, has risen to over 11% of the youth population in Nigeria. This essay will examine the concerning state of drug abuse in Nigeria, the potential consequences, and the measures that can be taken to address this growing problem.

Current Scenario and Statistics

According to the 2021 World Drug Report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC), an estimated 275 million people worldwide used drugs in the previous year. Among them, over 36 million people suffered from drug use disorders . In Nigeria, the 2018 National Drug Use Survey revealed that approximately 14.3 million individuals were drug users, with nearly three million of them experiencing drug use disorders.

The Impact of Cannabis Use

The World Drug Report highlights the worrying trend of increasing cannabis potency by up to four times in some regions over the past 24 years. Paradoxically, the perception of cannabis as harmful has declined among adolescents by as much as 40%. This is concerning as cannabis use has been linked to various health and social issues, particularly among regular, long-term users. In Nigeria alone, there are approximately 11 million cannabis users, with a significant proportion requiring drug counseling due to regular usage.

Projected Future Challenges

The global drug use scenario is projected to worsen in the coming years. Between 2010 and 2019, the number of people using drugs increased by 22%, largely due to population growth. Demographic changes alone suggest an estimated 11% increase in global drug users by 2030. Africa, including Nigeria, is expected to experience a significant surge of 40% in drug users due to its rapidly growing and young population. These projections indicate that Nigeria could potentially have around 20 million drug users by 2030, exacerbating public health and security challenges.

Addressing the Issue

While the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), under the leadership of General Muhammad Buba Marwa (rtd), has made commendable efforts in tackling drug abuse , more actions are needed to combat the supply of hard drugs into the country. Authorities must intensify their efforts to identify and apprehend those responsible for trafficking these substances.

Prevention and Awareness

Preventing drug abuse requires a comprehensive approach involving all stakeholders. Parents play a crucial role in monitoring their children’s activities and ensuring they associate them with positive influences. Nigerian youths must be educated about the dangers of drug abuse, emphasizing the life-threatening consequences and the risk of diseases like lung cancer and hepatitis C associated with smoking.

The escalating rates of drug abuse among Nigerian youths present a disheartening and worrisome situation. Urgent action is required to address this public health and security crisis. Efforts must be made to enhance law enforcement measures, intensify drug supply interception, and increase public awareness programs to educate young individuals about the risks and consequences of drug abuse . By working together, the government, communities, and families can strive to create a healthier and safer environment for Nigerian youths.

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Essays on Drug Trafficking

Drug trafficking is an ever rising security problem affecting many nations across the globe. Governments as well as international bodies including the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and several international donors have made great efforts in acknowledging the drug trafficking...

Words: 2336

Drug trafficking is an illegal trade which involves, the cultivation of drugs, manufacturing, distribution, and selling of any illicit drug. Drug crime, on the other hand, consists of any combination of cultivation, production, distribution, sale or usage of the illegal drugs. The paper outlines detailed research on the effects of...

Words: 1549

Drug Trafficking and Its Methods With individuals from various regions engaged in the sale, transportation, and importation of illegal drugs like cocaine, marijuana, and heroin among others, drug trafficking has become a widespread issue in many nations around the globe. Different regions have different drug trafficking cultures, and the laws there...

Words: 1478

The 2006 documentary film Cocaine Cowboys focused on Miami, Florida's drug wars and the rise of cocaine. Between the 1970s and 1980s, the epidemic of offenses that resulted swept through Miami. The film's creators spoke with former drug traffickers, criminal group members, journalists, law enforcement officials, and Miami attorneys who...

Words: 1803

Unlawful Drug Trafficking and the Global Effort to Combat It Unlawful drug trafficking is a problem that has received worldwide attention. The war on drugs has spread beyond national borders, and whenever required, like-minded states have joined forces for a global effort to put an end to the illicit trade. President...

Cochise County in Arizona: A Community in Crisis Cochise, in southern Arizona, has been characterized as having a high intensity in drug trafficking and drug use. Cochise's location near the Mexican border makes it particularly vulnerable to drug trafficking and use among its youth. Furthermore, many houses in the community are...

Words: 1063

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Authorities' Wars Against Drug Trafficking Cartels Authorities in both the United States and Mexico have conducted unsuccessful wars against drug trafficking cartels. Over the last decade, the US government has spent more than $2 billion to fight drug smuggling across the border. To avoid detection, the drug traffickers' group employs tunnels,...

According to the article Mexico's Other Border: Security, Migration, and the Humanitarian Crisis at the Line with Central America, the border between Guatemala and Mexico offers a porous spot that is taken advantage of by drug traffickers and people crossing the border illegally from Guatemala into Mexico. In essence, the...

Words: 2562

One of the issues with the illegal border activities that endangers American interests is terrorism. Refusing assistance to countries that support terrorism, such as Saudi Arabia and others, is one way to combat terrorism. By implementing the appropriate security measures, the risk mitigation solution to the terrorist attacks can be...

Words: 1363

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) works to defend the country from unlawful border crossings as a result of the 9/11 reforms. Border security is critical to the safety of US people. Illegal actions along the border pose a significant threat to the country's security, and devising solutions to this...

Drug trafficking and usage have an effect on practically every aspect of people's life in Ireland. The harm caused by this threat is frequently seen in the overburdened court system, health care system, underemployed and lost work force, disintegration of families, and ecosystem degradation. Due of the widespread effects, this...

Words: 1925

We need to address the multifaceted aspects of the drug trafficking issue to create a safer society. Among these is the role of narco-media and Hollywood in the seductive appeal of the illicit drug trade. While it's possible to criminalize the trade, our laws and policies must address the complex embeddedness...

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Essay on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

Students are often asked to write an essay on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

Introduction.

Drug abuse and illicit trafficking are global problems. These issues affect society’s health, safety, and well-being. Drug abuse refers to the harmful use of drugs, while illicit trafficking involves illegal trade of drugs.

Effects of Drug Abuse

Drug abuse can lead to health problems, including mental disorders and physical illnesses. It can also cause social issues like unemployment, crime, and broken families.

Illicit Drug Trafficking

Illicit drug trafficking is a serious crime. It involves the manufacture, distribution, and sale of illegal drugs. This trade fuels crime, violence, and corruption.

To fight drug abuse and illicit trafficking, we need education, law enforcement, and treatment programs. It’s a fight that needs everyone’s participation.

250 Words Essay on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

The scourge of drug abuse.

Drug abuse is not confined to any demographic or socio-economic strata. It’s a pervasive issue that affects individuals, families, and communities. The repercussions extend beyond health problems, leading to broken families, lost potential, and increased crime rates. The abuse of prescription drugs and new psychoactive substances (NPS) has emerged as a significant concern, highlighting the evolving nature of drug abuse.

Illicit Trafficking: A Global Problem

Illicit drug trafficking fuels organized crime, destabilizes societies, and undermines economic growth. The clandestine nature of drug trafficking makes it a complex issue to tackle. It’s a lucrative business for criminal networks due to the high demand for drugs and the significant profits involved.

The Interplay and Impact

Drug abuse and illicit trafficking form a vicious cycle. Increased availability of drugs due to illicit trafficking leads to higher rates of drug abuse. Conversely, the demand created by drug abuse fuels illicit trafficking. This interplay exacerbates the social and economic issues associated with each problem.

Addressing drug abuse and illicit trafficking requires a holistic approach that includes education, prevention, treatment, and law enforcement efforts. It’s crucial to break the cycle of demand and supply to effectively combat these issues. By understanding the complexities and interconnectedness of drug abuse and illicit trafficking, we can develop more effective strategies to address these global problems.

500 Words Essay on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

Drug abuse and illicit trafficking are significant global issues that continue to pose a serious threat to public health, social stability, and economic development. They are intrinsically linked phenomena that reinforce each other, creating a vicious cycle that is challenging to break.

Illicit Drug Trafficking: A Global Concern

Illicit drug trafficking, on the other hand, is a global black market dedicated to the cultivation, manufacture, distribution, and sale of drugs that are subject to drug prohibition laws. It’s a highly profitable, yet dangerous business, often associated with powerful transnational organized crime networks. Its impacts are far-reaching, undermining social and economic development, political stability, and public health.

The Interplay between Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

The relationship between drug abuse and illicit trafficking is symbiotic. The demand for drugs fuels the illicit trade, while the availability of drugs promotes abuse and addiction. This interplay creates a self-perpetuating cycle that exacerbates both problems.

Addressing the Issue

Addressing drug abuse and illicit trafficking requires a comprehensive, multi-pronged approach. This includes prevention efforts aimed at reducing the demand for drugs, harm reduction strategies to minimize the negative health impacts of drug use, and supply reduction measures to disrupt the illicit drug trade.

Education plays a crucial role in prevention. By raising awareness about the dangers of drug use and promoting healthy coping mechanisms, we can help individuals make informed decisions and reduce the likelihood of drug abuse.

In conclusion, drug abuse and illicit trafficking are interconnected global problems that require concerted efforts to address. By understanding their interplay and implementing comprehensive strategies, we can work towards a future free from the devastating impacts of these phenomena. The challenge is daunting, but with the right approach, it is surmountable.

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Expository Essay On Drug Abuse In Nigeria 450 Words

In the vibrant tapestry of Nigeria, a troubling thread weaves its way through the lives of countless individuals, casting a shadow over families, communities, and the nation itself. This thread is the menace of drug abuse, a complex issue that affects people of diverse backgrounds and ages. In this expository essay, we shall delve into the layers of this problem, exploring its causes, effects, and the measures that can be taken to combat it.

Table of Contents

Essay:  Unmasking the Shadows – Understanding Drug Abuse in Nigeria

Drug abuse, a deeply rooted concern in Nigeria, has ensnared the minds of many, including students who should be shaping the future. From the allure of cocaine to the grip of heroin and the haze of hash, the usage of these substances is far from uncommon[1]. The ripples of this problem extend far beyond the individual user, impacting families, communities, and the broader fabric of society.

The intertwining of drug abuse with criminal activities casts a dark cloud over Nigeria. Often, addiction and drug usage become entangled with a web of criminal behavior, including prostitution and sexual exploitation, resulting in vulnerable individuals being preyed upon[2]. The vicious cycle leads to tragic outcomes, with users often falling victim to violence, abuse, and exploitation.

The toll of drug abuse on health is a stark reality. The human body bears the brunt of the choices made, as substance abuse paves the path to heart ailments, kidney malfunction, and irreversible damage to the brain[4]. The very essence of self-control is under siege due to altered brain functioning, perpetuating the cycle of addiction and further physical deterioration.

The devastation caused by drug abuse stretches beyond the individual to disrupt the harmony of families and communities, undermining the foundations of society itself. Relationships are strained, families fractured, and social fabric torn asunder. The burden placed on healthcare systems and law enforcement compounds the issue, diverting resources from pressing matters.

Nurturing a solution to the epidemic of drug abuse requires a multifaceted strategy. First and foremost, awareness campaigns are pivotal in illuminating the path towards a drug-free society. Through education, individuals can be enlightened about the dangers that lie within the grasp of addiction. Accessible and well-funded rehabilitation centers must be established to provide a lifeline to those ensnared by substance dependency. The gears of law enforcement should turn towards dismantling drug trafficking networks and curbing the influx of illicit substances.

In conclusion, the specter of drug abuse in Nigeria is a formidable adversary, impacting individuals, families, and the entire nation. As we stand at the crossroads of a healthier future, it is imperative to address this issue head-on through comprehensive education, robust rehabilitation, and vigilant law enforcement. By doing so, we unravel the shadows that drug abuse casts, nurturing a society that thrives on resilience, unity, and wellbeing.

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Home / Essay Samples / Crime / Drug Trafficking

Drug Trafficking Essay Examples

Drug trafficking in the united states and policies to combat it.

Where to begin with the United States international counterdrug policy. We live in this world where the United States Government has felt like they have been doing a good job for the past 60 years on this subject. I am here to explain to you...

Effects of Drugs on Society Essay: Drug Abuse During the Pandemic

Drug abuse is major problem in many countries. Huge amount of money is spending to prevent drug use, treating addicts, and fighting drug-related crime. Even drugs threaten many societies; their effects can also be combated successfully. Drugs, has the many definitions in different countries as...

Analysis of the Relationship Between Drugs and Crime

This is relationship between drugs and crime essay in which I will evaluate the theories that have been developed to explain drug-crime connection. Throughout this essay, it will discuss and evaluate the theories that have been developed to explain the connection between drug use and...

War on Drugs in the Philippines: Crime and Its Causes

On the 30th day of May 2016, Rodrigo Roa Duterte was elected with over 16,000,000 votes. One of his main campaigns is the war on drugs. This propaganda is a good plan and a good way to solve one of the main problems in the...

Drugs Or Drug Policies: Where is the Root of Crime

The question concerning whether drugs cause crime or if drug policies cause crime is one which has been discussed at length, however no real conclusion has been reached. In “Relationship between drugs and crime” essay there is an attempt to find out the right answer...

The Us History of the Evolution of Drug and Drug Abuse

In this thematic essay the chosen topics for discovering the US history is - the history of drugs and drugs abuse. Drug is the thing that everyone afraid of, but why do some people still want to try it. Everybody knows somebody who has used...

Organized Crime and Pablo Escobar

Organized crime has been around for centuries, especially in the Western nations as the economies have become class-driven or class-focused. Organized crime can really be something that is out in the open or something that is underground and away from the naked eye. Many operations...

West Africa and Drug Trafficking to the UK

West Africa has become a global hub for illegal drugs transiting from both Latin America and Asia to many continents around the world. Globalization regarding organized crime has been increasing over the years. With the demand for narcotics now ‘sky high’ in the United Kingdom,...

Impact of the Illicit Narcotics Trade on the Colombian Economy

Republic of Colombia is a nation located in the northern part of South America. Currently it is one of the largest and most prosperous countries in the region. Every year millions of tourists flock to Colombia to visit its’ amazing beaches and taste its’ exceptional...

The Role of Women in the Illicit Drug Trade

Although statistics show that men are more heavily involved in the illicit drug trade (Fleetwood, 2015), recent data has shown that women are becomingly increasingly involved in the distribution of drugs (Bailey, 2013) (Van San & Sikkens, 2017). Indeed, throughout the world, this is evident...

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