The War on Drugs: Illegal Opium Markets

The War on Drugs: Illegal Opium Markets Introduction Opium (and opioids) which are obtained from the sap of the poppy plant have routinely been used to control pain in countries throughout the world over many centuries. Opium, also, has historically been used in a social context illustrated by the opium dens in China which has lead to it becoming a trade-able commodity with high values over recent eras. Opioids have therefore developed both legal and illegal global markets and through studying where this stands in society both now and historically it will assist the reader to interpret what is determined to be crime and subsequently justice. The notion of Crime has traditionally been regarded as an offence which goes beyond the personal and into the public sphere, breaking prohibitory rules or laws, to which legitimate punishments are attached and what a society considers to be a crime is socially constructed (Scott Marshall, 2009). Crime, however must not be considered in isolation and can be defined by the power inequalities amongst stakeholders in both how local and global relations cause tensions or aid policies and practice which result in violence, the so called white-collar crime. Wars have been attributed to the opium trade and these contested matters on both individual and national levels cause both social and personal harms (The Open University, 2009(a)). In order to critically analyse opiate use we must understand what constitutes legal and illegal drug use. Legal use can be considered to be prescription drugs, drugs available over the counter (OTC) and other socially accepted means whereas in contrast what is construed to be illegal has constantly in flux and is determined by those in power who attempt to isolate and control behaviours that are out-with social norms (The Open University, 2009 (b)). It is perhaps not by coincidence then that throughout history certain cultures, communities and specific groups have been actively targeted and by penal measures in the justice system or other socially constructed ones held accountable for wrongdoings whereas those in power both in (inter)national corporations and governments have often remained unaccountable for their actions. The war on drugs, who does it really affect? The link between global relations and the illegal opium markets have recurring themes through history. War is one of these and in America in the 1970s there was a real threat to the stability of the preceding government so a decision was made by President Richard Nixon to declare a nationwide war on drugs across the whole of America. Under the guise of this war the regime targeted dissident groups including the Black Panthers and those who canvassed support against the Vietnam War (The Open University, 2009(c)). Wars have both intended and unintended consequences, in this case the government has assisted indirectly in encouraging more violent traits with emerging gangs seeking fresh territory in order to traffic drugs illegally (The Open University, 2009,(c)). On a local level drug trade can be essential for the community to be self-sufficient, especially in poverty stricken areas and those with higher crime and deprivation levels. Such complex relations and competing power balances allow for corruptness to occur in high level positions of authority therefore benefiting those who are involved in dealing or importation, the counter argument provided by individuals living in these deprived areas of Afghanistan are that if work was provided, housing and other human essentials then they wouldnt need to be involved in illegal activities. It is clear that these communities are treated less favourably than more powerful corporations and governments who also break or influence the law. Crime involving drugs are generally associated with anti-social groups, the underclass or those with low income as opposed to the wealthier and subsequently more influential classes, therefore there is just cause in suggesting that class bias occurs when treatment is needed involving opioids. A further relative example is that in the USA black people were, and remain, disproportionally represented in the jails (The Open University, 2009(c)). Why are the powerful able to get away with Crime? The powerful, those with money, those in high positions or with influential sway are seemingly able to get away with crimes which affect locals, crimes against humanity, they hold the responsibility for punishing and regulating others. The question that must be asked is who regulates them? The truth is that they arent and if they are found at fault the problem can be made to go away. The Open University (2009, (b)) argue that there is there is a clear difference between how the justice system treats the perceived legal and illegal elements. There appears to be no regulation in how the pharmaceutical industry can be allowed without question to be involved in the Prescription Drug User Fee Act from 1992 which is linked to the Food and Drug Administration, therefore its accountability to be examined. From this it is clear that large influential corporations whom evade any punishment through the justice system, but internal corruption is more prevalent due to the lack of regulation or risk of punitive sanction within the trade. Corruption is a key area in how corporations and the illegal hierarchy together are able to by-pass the justice system allowing for the trading in opiates to continue despite strict measures attempting to prevent it (The Open University, 2009(b)). Another example in quantitative terms of justice being avoided is highlighted when Purdue Pharma, an international company was fined $600 million because they had deliberately misled their customers by stating that Oxycontin was less addictive that other competitors products. This deception caused several people to lose their lives and many people to subsequently become addicted, all from what consumer would of believed to be a reputable organisation (The Open University, 2009(b)). Again no custodial terms were handed out to the persons responsible which is in stark contrast to the less powerful groups who in the main are targeted as being accountable. This also demonstrates how the global (international) can affect the local (national). Global relations in the form of large corporations and drug cartels, those who together both distribute drugs when analysed actually are more similar that dissimilar, together they want to: provide a reputable service leading to repeat custom; sell their product (often for a profit); manage the risk of harm, violence or penal sanction by having management structures in place, for example those at the top have the most assets but are never seen getting their hands dirty, where the foot soldiers are placing themselves at the higher end of the risk spectrum increase professionalism in product manufacture and marketing (The Open University, 2009(b)) Why do drugs go where the trade goes? The production and use of opium has a complex interrelationship with the 19th Century colonisation where the British began to import opiates into China from its Indian colonies. The Chinese Emperor banned this import of opium due to his country suffering high addiction levels. The British government believed in free trade and took action to ensure that the Chinese would accept opium imports whether it was legal or not (The Open University, 2009(b)). Because Britain was able to exercise this power it continued to be detrimental to China. Ironically centuries later the British Prime Minister Tony Blair cited the same example the Chinese emperor had used in that Britain was being harmed therefore it was necessary to start military action in Afghanistan in order to destroy the Afghanistan opium crops. Both times our government was answerable for causing harm to another nation but not held at legal or moral fault. Instead it was held that it served as in the interest of the nation rather than criminally wrong (The Open University, 2009(b)). Trade boundaries in global affairs are not only influenced by their respective governments. Both Turkey and India contribute to the destruction of Opium crops in Afghanistan and consequentially by restricting this market globally they have control over pricing of opioids, as opposed to higher competition lowering the cost of each unit. Violent clashes followed involving the farmers and government officials but this action only harmed locals by physical violence but taking their only available source of income. By examining Tajikistan which is a country lying to the north of Afghanistan it will assist in understanding how illegal trafficking occurs. It has isolated borders and no road networks between border nations but it is the gateway to the rest of Asia and then Europe. The Tajikistan authorities seize more illegal shipments than all the other Asian counties together (The Open University, 2009(c)). When the Soviet Union collapsed, Tajikistan was devastated and they were exposed to incentives to support illegal activities by trafficking drugs. This meant that more drugs are freely available which has altered the patterns of consumption and the need for stronger drugs like heroin. Global trade in different cultures and countries therefore affects both the illegal and legal methods of importation and drug usage / dependency (The Open University, 2009(a)). Tajikistan itself is a large scale drug industry that again shows how corruption at all levels of society and particular within the police and governments i.e. Border guards and their senior officers demonstrates a blurring of who is at fault, social harms are being created at all levels and if faced with the option to survive or not locals are always going to be found at fault by influential officials (The Open University, 2009(b)). Conclusion Today, we live in a world of global trade and national exchange. I have demonstrated that where open trade occurs then so does the illegal drug market, you cant have open trade and no drugs. Crime is therefore to be considered as a global concern not a local one. In critically reviewing both legal and illegal opium markets it is fair to argue that the power disparities within localities allows for social harms to be created, on a global level what takes place in one country can have a direct impact on another leading to violence and damaged communities. Power is a key theme and is shown during the closing of the Chinese boundaries but Britain still continued to force trading relations alongside the destruction of communities in the USA, Tajikistan and Afghanistan as a result of poverty and corruptness by authorities. The definition of crime at the start is given as its socially constructed and personal, this essay opens up this theory and shows that crime through illegal and legal methods of opioid use is actually a global concern; Tajikistan following Soviet collapse shows the global implications of Crime and Justice. Approximately 1750 words not including the question or brackets. Types of Abuse: Domestic, Financial and Technological Types of Abuse: Domestic, Financial and Technological Abuse occurs when people mistreat or misuse other people. Abusive behaviors are used to manipulate others. But the uncommon types of abuse are just as important as the common ones. They include economic, academic, and psychological abuse. Economic abuse is a form of abuse when one intimate partner has control over the other partners access to economic resources, which diminishes the victims capacity to support him/herself and forces him/her to depend on the perpetrator financially. Economic and financial abuse. Examples of economic abuse are removing or keeping property without consent, dispasing of property against another persons wishes and without lawful excuse, preventing access to joint financial assets, such as a joint bank account for the purposes of meeting normal household expenses. Economic abuse can include an abuser preventing victims from working and accessing bank accounts, credit cards or transportation among other isolating tactics as mentioned before. Money gives us a voice but most survivors of abuse already feel silenced by their experience. Lack of money intensifies feelings of being trapped, developed and alone. People living below the poverty line are the most vulnerable to economic abuse. For those manage to escape the abuse and survive initially, they often face overwhelming odds in obtaining long term security and safety, ruined credit scores, sporadic employment histories and legal issues caused by the battering make it extremely difficult to gain independence safety and long term security. Getting out of economic abuse involves opening separate bank accounts from the abuser. Creating a private account or find a safe place to store cash since saving up in and itself can trigger abuse, victims are tasked with finding ways to make and save money without the abuser finding out. Dean emphasizes that someones ability to save money will depend on the degree to which their adviser exerts control over them. For someone who is bei ng watched 24/7 the money saving process may be much slower. As with any abusive relationship victims must consider their safety after theyve left. Stopping economic abuse is an extremely complicated task because each familys financial situation and relationship is different. Economic abuse is rarely talked about and misunderstood by people but we simply cant afford to talk about it anymore.. Technology abuse is digital partner violence when technology is used such as cell-phones, computers, and location technologies to bully, harass, stalk or intimidate a partner. Often this behavior is a form verbal or emotional abuse perpetrated online, through texts, calls Etc. The internet is one of the most popular dynamics shaping our social, intellectual and moral spheres. The internet empowers individuals with immediate information to collaborate, engage, and participate. Technology abuse is extremely common in abusive relationships. Abusers often misuse technology as a way to control and monitor, or humans victims. Many states have responded to this misuse of technology by passing specific laws to address the behaviors. In other states these acts can come under criminal laws such as harassment, stalking, eavesdropping, unlawful surveillance, etc. There are different types of technology abuse such as sexting, which is the act of sending and receiving sexually explicit text messa ges, photographs or videos mainly through a mobile device. There Is always a risk that a sext could be shared or distributed with additional people electronically without your consent. Another is impersonation, impersonation generally refers to when someone uses a false identity and commits acts that will result in personal gain or that will deceive or harm another person. Some states have laws that criminize impersonating another person with the intent to defraud someone. One more example of technology abuse is Electronic surveillance. Electronic surveillance is a broad term used to describe when someone watches another person actions or monitors a persons conversations without his/her knowledge or consent by using one or more electronic device. Electronic surveillance can be done by misusing cameras, recorders, wiretaps, social media, or email. It can also be done by the misuse of monitoring software (Known as Spyware) which can be installed on a computer, tablet, or smartphone to secretly monitor the activity without users knowledge. Young people are increasingly being subjected to technology abuse. Teen violence prevention organization day one says half of the people ages 14-24 have experienced it. Lesbians, gays bisexuals users are more than twice as likely than straight users, to experience abuse online. The study found that also men and women are subject to similar levels of abuse, the attacks on women were often of a more serious nature of the 20 categories of harassment the researchers looked at. Men were most likely to report being called names and being embarrassed online. Psychological abuse (also referred as psychological violence, emotional abuse or mental abuse) is a form of abuse, characterized by a person subjecting, or exposing another person to behavior that may result in psychological trauma, including anxiety, chronic depression or post-traumatic stress disorder. Psychological abuse is common and yet few understand the psychological abuse definition enough to spot it without the visible signs of physical abuse can stay hidden for years. Psychological abuse though can be just as worse as physical abuse. psychological abuse can affect your inner thoughts and feelings as well as exert control over your life. You feel uncertain of the world around you, and unsafe in your own home, physiological abuse can destroy intimate relationship with yourself psychological abuse also applies to children and may impair their development into a healthy adult. The abuse signs and symptoms may start small at first as the abuser test the waters to see what the other person will accept, but before long the psychological abuse builds into something that can be frightening and threating. Signs include name calling, yelling, insulting the person, threating the person or something that is important to them, ignoring, isolating the excluding them from meaningful events. CITATIONS Campbell, Rebecca. Code to Inspire: Bitcoin Gives Afghan Women Financial Freedom. Bitcoin Magazine. N.p., 14 Apr. 2016. Web. 23 Mar. 2017. Written by Britni De La Cretaz.Britni Has Also Written: How Budgeting Improved My Relationship, Making Financial Amends in Alcoholics Anonymous and My Shopping Addiction Nearly Destroyed My Life More from This Author. How to Rebuild After Escaping Financial Abuse. Daily Worth. N.p., 28 Jan. 2017. Web. 23 Mar. 2017. Technological Abuse, Harassment on the Rise for Teens. CBS News. CBS Interactive, 22 Oct. 2016. Web. 23 Mar. 2017. Tracy, Natasha. Psychological Abuse: Definition, Signs and Symptoms. Healthy Place. N.p., July-Aug. 2012. Web. Mar.-Apr. 2017. Soong, Jennifer. When Technology Addiction Takes Over Your Life. WebMD. WebMD, 12 Nov. 2011. Web. 23 Mar. 2017.