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Bruc k. alexander reframing canadas drug problem
Bruc k. alexander reframing canadas drug problem
Reframing Canada's drug problem
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From the beginning of time, drugs have played an important part in our daily lives, for example caffeine in our morning coffee. The implementation of drug policies in Canada occurred in the early 20th century. Opiates were at one point widely used in medicines, until becoming incorrect and considered a “Chinese problem” by the common white folk as they blamed the trafficking and smuggling of drugs on Chinese immigrants. The Opium Act of 1908 created the first drug prohibition. However, other opiates and cocaine were included a bit later in the Opium and Drug Act of 1911 and cannabis was added in 1923. Since then we have implemented a National Anti-Drug strategy and following closely in American footsteps with our approach to our illicit drug …show more content…
Drug dealers have a part in this illegal drug trade problem as they support it and are the reason it continues to flourish. They buy, and then sell, creating an income for themselves, but more importantly, a lifestyle. Drug dealers ultimately feel that this issue is not really a problem; however, they feel that laws being placed on drugs are the sole problem. The general consensus of drug dealers is that if there were no laws restricting them, it would not be illegal, and due to this, they often sell drugs in an attempt to crusade and defy authority. They may not know, however, that this problem affects them deeply, as they may be getting themselves involved with criminal organisations and other dangerous figures while buying and selling. Additionally, to try to stop once they have established an identity for themselves amongst a drug dealing community will be difficult. So, although they feel that illegal drug trade is simply a way to provide people with what they want, similar to grocery stores, they are also placing themselves in dangerous …show more content…
Firstly, many people believe that the biggest issue relating to drug trade is how it gets here. It usually originates in Colombia passing through the Mexican and American border to Canada. For this reason, tighter border security is a great solution in minimizing illicit drug trade in Canada. For every crime, there are motives and means. By tightening border security (more officials, heavier inspections) we are attacking the means by which this crime occurs. Soon the hassle of smuggling will become greater than the motive or money resulting in significantly lower smuggling
People often associate Mexico and Southeast Asia with the main source of drugs because a significant number of drug activities in these two regions are often globally reported on televisions. Nevertheless, Canada also has a problem of drugs, especially regarding the issue of marijuana. In the journal article “Canadian Cannabis: Marijuana as an Irritant/Problem in Canada-US Relations”, Paul Gecelovsky claims that Canada-US relations may be strained because a large amount of marijuana has been illegally exported to America continuously, and American wonder that Canadian policy base on marijuana problem is too light. By reflecting the marijuana issue on the relationship between Canada and the United States, the author presents a strong and reliable argument by appealing to logos through using statistical evidence, appealing to ethos through citing scholarly articles, and using the claims of cause and effect.
Concerned authorities have focused essentially on criminalization and punishment, to find remedies to the ever-increasing prevalent drug problem. In the name of drug reducing policies, authorities endorse more corrective and expensive drug control methods and officials approve stricter new drug war policies, violating numerous human rights. Regardless of or perhaps because of these efforts, UN agencies estimate the annual revenue generated by the illegal drug industry at $US400 billion, or the equivalent of roughly eight per cent of total international trade (Riley 1998). This trade has increased organized/unorganized crime, corrupted authorities and police officials, raised violence, disrupted economic markets, increased risk of diseases an...
Marijuana has long been the subject of many heated debates and political platforms. With lack of un-biased materials on marijuana, it quickly became victim to publications and political propaganda in the early 1900s. Richard Isralowits writes, “Publications from the period had such titles as Marijuana-Sex Crazy Drug Menace, Marijuana-The Weed of Madness, and Marijuana: Assassin of Youth”(Use of Marijuana,105). Surely in this modern age and heightened public awareness our marijuana laws, drafted in a time of extreme bias, have got to be obsolete. Although many people still have strong opinions against the legalisation of marijuana, after review of current un-biased studies and reports they will find that this is not the case. Marijuana should be legalised in Canada because of the cost, the justice system, and the health concerns.
One of the most obvious reasons why drugs are still around is because it is such a profitable business. In our society, marijuana, cocaine, xanax, and ecstasy are convenient and readily available to purchase almost anywhere you go. Those who sell drugs can make anywhere from five hundred to three thousand dollars a day. This income is tax-free and requires little to no labor efforts whatsoever. Those involved in this lucrative trade are taking somewhat of a risk, but because dealing drugs is so common in our society the chances of getting caught aren’t as high as expected. Drug trafficking alone serves for about 40 percent of all organized crime activity with this number increasing everyday as drugs become more and more popular. With the economy being so bad most find it easy to turn to selling drugs as an acceptable mean of income.
Bruce K. Alexander’s essay “reframing Canada’s drug problem is about how the focus needs to be shifting from intervention to prevention
In my paper I will mainly focus on the drug industry in Canada and mainly how the illegal drug industry has created an impact on our society and how our government has bought in some rules and regulations to control them.
However, before the specific outcomes of Congressional influence and policy impact can be evaluated it becomes important to first review the general history and current situation of drugs today. Our present drug laws were first enacted at the beginning of the century. At the time, recreational use of narcotics was not a major social issue. The first regulatory legislation was for the purpose of standardizing the manufacturing and purity of pharmaceutical products. Shortly after, the first criminal laws were enacted which addressed opium products and cocaine. Although some states had prohibited the recreational use of marijuana, there was no federal criminal legislation until 1937. By contrast, the use of alcohol and its legality was a major social issue in United States in the early 20th century. This temperance movement culminated in the prohibition of alcohol from 1920 to 1933. Recreational drug use, particularly heroin, became more prevalent among the urban poor during the early ?60s. Because of the high cost of heroin and its uncertain purity, its use was associated with crime and frequent overdoses.
.... Weak economies and high poverty rates haven’t been much assistance in preventing drug trafficking either. People have become more susceptible to making risks in order to find ways to support their families and drug networks are always looking for more people to distribute their drugs around the world. Because of drug trafficking, there are constant civil wars going on between the drug corporations, law enforcement, and citizens. This has become a common theme all throughout the world. Drug trafficking has only became worse and worse each and every day, and it is going to continue to be a problem for quite some time.
Drug use and abuse is as old as mankind itself. Human beings have always had a desire to eat or drink substances that make them feel relaxed, stimulated, or euphoric. Wine was used at least from the time of the early Egyptians; narcotics from 4000 B.C.; and medicinal use of marijuana has been dated to 2737 B.C. in China. But it was not until the nineteenth century that the active substances in drugs were extracted. There was a time in history when some of these newly discovered substances, such as morphine, laudanum, cocaine, were completely unregulated and prescribed freely by physicians for a wide variety of ailments.
Our economic statue tells us that a supply rapidly grows up to meet a demand. But if the demand is widespread then suppression is useless. It is harmful to society because since by raising the price of the drug in question, it raises the profits of middlemen, which gives them an even more powerful drug to stimulate demand further. The vast profits to be made from cocaine and heroin, which would be cheap and easily affordable, even by the poorest in affluent societies if they were legal. Besides, it is well known the illegality in itself has attraction for youth already inclined to disaffection.
Bruce K. Alexander’s essay “Reframing Canada’s ‘Drug Problem’” is about shifting the focus from intervention to prevention. Alexander explains that in Canada there have been three major waves of drug intervention: “Criminal prosecution and intensive anti-drug” (225), “medicinal and psychological treatment” (225), and the ‘“harm reduction’ techniques” (225) being the most resent. The “’harm reduction’” (225) consisted of: clean injectable heroin, clean needles, methadone, and housing for addicts. Although each of the methods is devoted and knowledgeable, they have done little to decrease the deaths or suppress the unhappiness. While clean heroin did work well few addicts quit using and many found
...ion and drug smuggling has been on the rise the past few decades and our current approach is not confronting the escalating issue at hand. America’s safekeeping at our borders is not robust enough to deter these illegal immigrants and drug smugglers. Our border wall and security checkpoints must be strengthened immediately.
The topic of the legalization of illicit drugs is very controversial, inciting moral and conservative beliefs. Directly or indirectly, all Canadians have been affected by drugs, whether it be from the personal abuse of illicit substances, or merely the economic burden drugs have on society. Hundreds of millions of dollars are spent through Canada's attempts to eradicate drugs, but the efforts fail, inducing social disturbance and political chaos. The Canadian government is wasting money and resources on drug prohibition. Canadians who do not use recreational drugs will not use them because of the health risks; people who do use drugs would continue to use them regardless if they are illegal.
It is evident that marijuana has an audience in Canada, as it is used so frequently even though it is prohibited. The views of many Canadians on marijuana seems to be a lax one, and legalization is again seen as a great idea for many citizens. As it is illegal, possession has had costly effects on citizens, and how others perceive them. “in Canada, 60 000 people are arrested each year for possession, affecting employment opportunities, social stigma, and the ability to travel across borders” (Leyton 75). Minor drug charges have led to serious problems for many Canadians, and the development of thought has switched to legalization as they problems would disappear.
Illegal drugs are used by people as a way out when feeling down about themselves. As the effects of the drugs may stay the same throughout, causes show that there are a large number of reasons for use. Being lonely, isolated, and frustrated in life help start off the drive to escape. In many cases, using drugs is a coping mechanism, especially in teens. Emotions become numb as people try to escape the pain of reality. This is seen in the youth of today as they deal with everyday pressures.. Drug abuse can make people think they are re-creating their former negative self image. This rebellious action gives the attention that is desired. From trying to fit in to hiding from problems, people will always have a choice. In the end, the reality of drug use is damaging to the user's body, mind and relationships.