Review of Drug War Zone - Book Report/Review Example

Drug war zone Drugs and their abuse has been a major world concern for quite a long period now. Drug abuse has been abolished in many constitutions of various governments because of their effects to both the consumers and non-consumers. The key to this effect is that drug abuse influences a lot of things in the country more so the economy to begin with. The reason as to why drug abuse has been a major problem in many countries is that, drugs generate a lot of profit to its investor due to its addictive nature and since people would want to grow rich faster ,their road to achieving their dreams is made much easier by the idea of venturing into drugs. Drug war zone by Howard Campbell describes how drugs have influenced the lives of many people in Mexico causing a lot of deaths and pain. Thousands of death cases related to drug abuse are reported in Chihuahua, Texas, El Paso and Ciudad Juarez (campbell 33). Juarez has gone as far as reporting the most cases thus becoming the most brutal city in Mexico when it comes to drug and wars. Cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana are the most famous as they are traded from the United States across the Mexican boarder to the country’s interior cities. The book describes the whole trade and how people become enemies of themselves because of greed and the love of money. The Mexican boarder is always chaotic due to the illegal business that goes around it. The Mexico government has done readjustment to its personnel to solve this inclusive of US officials but hasn’t achieved fully. Howard Campbell digs into the anthropological examining of drug peddling in the Mexican border and the measures the government has tried to put in place to counter the activities. He focuses majorly on people of Juarez and what goes on around this area since it’s the most affected by the whole saga. Campbell has achieved being the first writer to inscribe about the intense drug wars which have effected to turning Mexico upside down. The aim of Howard Campbell was to present the issue of drug smuggling to the world and how it affects people citing Mexico as a perfect example. For this reason, half this book contains the oral histories coming from the drug peddlers and the rest from officials enforcing the law. Campbell bases his analysis and explanations on drug cartels functions, frauds that make possible the drug smuggling business, the methods used by the smugglers in collaboration with the officials in the anti-narcotic department. The wars have become a culture in this areas thus making Campbell to refer to the incidences as “Drug War Zone”. In summary, Howard Campbell focuses on corruption, government strategies in subliming the smuggling process and the effects of the smuggling which he insists on drugs being a primary cause of many deaths in Mexico. He addresses the question on the negative impacts of drug peddling and why corruption is playing a role in supporting the smuggling process. He also puts into consideration the participants who help him answer the many questions pertaining drug trafficking. He also presents his opinions on the prohibition of drug abuse. The book portrays the negative effects of drug in a way to caution the reader influencing him or her to engage in the fight against narcotics. After many deaths have been registered in Mexico, the US government was forced to sprig into action by putting more agents to reinforce the law at the borders of Mexico and also funding the Mexican government with the aim of stopping the smuggling business and putting in place more security personnel to ensure the safety of innocent citizens (campbell 132). Campbell criticizes law enforcers and politicians of putting their self interests ahead while the life of the common citizen is at stake. Corruption is mentioned as one of the reasons for the strong existence of the business and people with big roles and powers in the country are the ones playing as the key makers of the business. The government has tried to fight this business for a long period of time with its efforts drawing no water since the master mines are in within it. It is indeed hard to fight something in a solo effort having in mind that what is being fought against has more powers. Campbell relates cartels with terrorists as the use high technology in their business in which the returns are beneficial to them but harmful to citizens. Drug smuggling is using so many principles to its success. Money and power are the major entities behind its existence for the long period it has been in place. Deaths are there to show how serious the whole saga is as every participant wants the biggest share thus the battle of supremacy in the field of market. Howard Campbell argument is that the policies to stop drug peddling both in the US and Mexico are ineffective as more finance is being used but the smuggling business does not cease (campbell 174). Drugs keep on threatening the economy of both the US and Mexico as funds are being used by citizens to buy these expensive commodities. Once put into use one can not fight the demand. The government is spending a lot on rehabilitation of its citizens. He also suggests that the many deaths are not just as the result of illegal drugs but legal drugs have played a role as well. My views about this book are that it is very influential especially to young people who are mostly targeted in this business. The author has cited a perfect example where the effects of drugs are seen from all ends. Drugs affect the social life of people that is why it results to wars. The book is realistic as it features the story of some of the greatest traffickers in Mexico like La Nacha and how the group got successful. The author talks about corruption from authorities which are entitled to dealing with the smuggling cases. It does not only happen in Mexico but many countries that experience this kind of illegal trade. Corruption cases are famous in the fields that generate a lot of money. According to Campbell the only way to eradicate smuggling is to acquire leaders who can be trusted. The law reinforcement department needs to have good strategies of governing itself thus to ensure there are no forms of conspiracy. In conclusion drugs abuse is dangerous to every society and it requires attention. Though drug trafficking generates a lot of income, it should be considered illegal and strict laws should be implemented to support this. Mexico being the leading country in the smuggling business has cited an example of what drug peddling can do to a society. Other countries should learn fro m that experience. Drug trafficking has led to strains in the financial status of many countries with the effects of drugs being felt by a large population. Drug users affect the people around them directly or indirectly. They influence their peers increasing the number of people to undergo rehabilitation or the might use the family resources in an exploitive manner making the other family member to suffer. Drugs control the brain functions and might lead violent whether social or domestic and intern cause death as it did in many families in Mexico. The book “Drag War Zone” is a great inspiration to a changing society. It should be highly endorsed. Work cited campbell, horward. drug war zone. texas: austin press, 2009. Print Read More