Asking the critical question
By Jim Poling Sr.
Reality often is more brutal than fiction.
You realize that when reading The Border, the 2019 novel about the Mexican drug cartels and their American enablers.
It’s
a big book, too long at 716 paperback pages and with too many
characters and side stories. It is a good book, however, that draws on
real-life experiences from America’s longest war – the hopelessly
ineffective 50-year-old war on drugs.
a big book, too long at 716 paperback pages and with too many
characters and side stories. It is a good book, however, that draws on
real-life experiences from America’s longest war – the hopelessly
ineffective 50-year-old war on drugs.
It
is a heartbreaking novel that lays bare the savagery of the drug
cartels, the inhumanity of the drug pushers and the tragedies of the
addicts.
is a heartbreaking novel that lays bare the savagery of the drug
cartels, the inhumanity of the drug pushers and the tragedies of the
addicts.
It
also shows graphically the hopelessness of law enforcement
professionals and others on the front lines of a war that consumes them.
They soldier on, but the war on drugs is effectively over and the drugs
have won.
also shows graphically the hopelessness of law enforcement
professionals and others on the front lines of a war that consumes them.
They soldier on, but the war on drugs is effectively over and the drugs
have won.
For all the novel’s 300,000 words, one word is critically important: Why?
“What
is the pain in the heart of American society that sends us searching
for a drug to lessen it . . . ?” the novel’s central character asks. “I
don’t have the answers but we must ask the real question – Why?”
is the pain in the heart of American society that sends us searching
for a drug to lessen it . . . ?” the novel’s central character asks. “I
don’t have the answers but we must ask the real question – Why?”
Why
did the wealthiest, once most influential and respected nation become
the world’s largest illegal drug user? A World Health Organization
survey of 17 countries shows America with the highest level of cocaine
and marijuana use.
did the wealthiest, once most influential and respected nation become
the world’s largest illegal drug user? A World Health Organization
survey of 17 countries shows America with the highest level of cocaine
and marijuana use.
The
Centres for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 72,287 people
died from drug overdoses in the U.S. in 2017, a 10-per-cent increase in
one year. There were an estimated 16,800 drug overdose deaths in 1999,
so the four-fold plus increase over 20 years is stunning.
Centres for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 72,287 people
died from drug overdoses in the U.S. in 2017, a 10-per-cent increase in
one year. There were an estimated 16,800 drug overdose deaths in 1999,
so the four-fold plus increase over 20 years is stunning.
U.S. drug overdose deaths now outnumber deaths by gun violence and auto accidents.
Two
hundred Americans dying every day of drug overdoses is a strong
indicator of a nation in a death spiral. But the question remains: Why?
Two
hundred Americans dying every day of drug overdoses is a strong
indicator of a nation in a death spiral. But the question remains: Why?
A
start to finding the answer is found in the U.S. attitude toward
shooting wars. For various reasons – some bad and some good – America
gets into a lot of wars. And, history shows that since ancient times
combat and drugs are comfortable bedfellows.
start to finding the answer is found in the U.S. attitude toward
shooting wars. For various reasons – some bad and some good – America
gets into a lot of wars. And, history shows that since ancient times
combat and drugs are comfortable bedfellows.
Cocaine
was the drug of choice among combatants in the First World War.
Amphetamines were taken in large numbers by front line troops in the
Second World War.
was the drug of choice among combatants in the First World War.
Amphetamines were taken in large numbers by front line troops in the
Second World War.
During
the Korean War the Pentagon handed out millions of Benzedrine pills to
servicemen, some of whom made up their own “speed balls” by mixing
heroin and amphetamine into an injectable mixture.
the Korean War the Pentagon handed out millions of Benzedrine pills to
servicemen, some of whom made up their own “speed balls” by mixing
heroin and amphetamine into an injectable mixture.
But
drug use among American troops hit new highs during another lost war –
Vietnam. The American military issued hundreds of millions of
dextroamphetamine “go pills” to troops fighting the North Vietnamese.
Researchers have estimated that 70 per cent of U.S. soldiers in Vietnam
used some form of drugs in 1973, the year the U.S. was forced to
retreat.
Drug use among American soldiers continued, and likely increased, during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
drug use among American troops hit new highs during another lost war –
Vietnam. The American military issued hundreds of millions of
dextroamphetamine “go pills” to troops fighting the North Vietnamese.
Researchers have estimated that 70 per cent of U.S. soldiers in Vietnam
used some form of drugs in 1973, the year the U.S. was forced to
retreat.
Drug use among American soldiers continued, and likely increased, during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
Many
soldiers return from wars with drug dependence. One study done by the
Drug Policy Alliance in New York shows tens of thousands of veterans in
prisons and jails, a large percentage for drug-related offences.
soldiers return from wars with drug dependence. One study done by the
Drug Policy Alliance in New York shows tens of thousands of veterans in
prisons and jails, a large percentage for drug-related offences.
Another
answer to “Why” might be found in America’s fading dream. The promises
of equality for everyone and opportunities for all have been left
unfulfilled.
answer to “Why” might be found in America’s fading dream. The promises
of equality for everyone and opportunities for all have been left
unfulfilled.
Immigration
control, crumbling infrastructure and a growing chasm between super
haves and growing numbers of have nots are among challenges depressing
the national spirit. The challenges are not being overcome, or even
effectively addressed, because of political polarization creating two
opposing Americas.
control, crumbling infrastructure and a growing chasm between super
haves and growing numbers of have nots are among challenges depressing
the national spirit. The challenges are not being overcome, or even
effectively addressed, because of political polarization creating two
opposing Americas.
There is a lesson in all this for Canada, which has its own serious and growing drug problem.
Canadian
government agencies tend to jumble and confuse statistics, but the
Public Health Agency reported an increase in opioid overdose deaths of
almost 36 per cent in 2017 over 2016. There appears to have been another
increase – of almost 10 per cent – in 2018.
There likely are many
answers to the question of why drugs are destroying American and
Canadian societies. Another critical question is how stop it. The answer
is simple: end the political partisanship madness and work together to
end this crisis.
That won’t be easy because as The Border novel
implies, the tentacles of the drug trade reach into high financial
circles, and governments.
