Drug Use and Trafficking

Sociology Unit II
DRUG USE AND TRAFFICKING
What is drug use and trafficking?

Drug trafficking can be defined as the crime of selling, transporting, or illegally importing
unlawful controlled substances, such as heroin, cocaine, marijuana, or other illegal drugs. Drug
trafficking also applies to the illegal selling or transportation of prescription drugs, which has
become an increasing problem in recent years.
Drug traffickers corrupt leading officials in business, government, and industry, which affects
political stability. The drug dealers' wealth affords them the ability to exert influence over
politicians, whose standing and influence are tied to their ability to make money. Politicians and
bureaucrats are less able to appropriately identify and defend "the national interests" as a result
of such corruption, which damages the legitimacy of governments. Moreover, it fosters cynicism
and a greater tolerance for corruption, both of which are risky; as a result, drug corruption
jeopardizes political security.
Why is drug trafficking considered a crime or deviant act?

There are several explanations for this complex phenomenon. From a constructionist point of
view, the existence of drug problem as a strictly objective state might be what characterizes the
problem as primarily the general public attitude. This becomes evident with the category of
deviance.
It is believed that if substance abuse is distinguished as an illness or a crime, the loss of control
linked to addiction is regarded as aberrant behavior that deviates from accepted social norms.
In simpler terms, drug trafficking is a crime as it involves actions that goes against enforced
legal laws by a society while the use of those same drugs is an deviant act as it only goes
against social norms.
Examples of drug use and trafficking:
● In recent decades, Jamaica has become a trans-shipment and storage point for Mexican
and Columbian organizations transporting cocaine to the United States and Europe.
● Heroin and synthetic drugs are also prevalent in the country, although to a much lesser
extent than cocaine.
● Jamaican authorities seized over 1500 kilograms of cocaine hidden inside a container at
the Port of Kingston on January 14. Authorities suggested that the cocaine originated in
Columbia and was sent to Jamaica for shipment onwards to the US and Europe.
● In September, a team of Jamaican and American anti-narcotics authorities seized some
500 kilograms of cocaine, at the Ian Fleming International Airport in northern Jamaica.
● Jamaica is the Caribbean's largest source of illicit marijuana destined for the United
States as well as a transit for cocaine en route to North America and Europe.
Stastical Data to prove the occurence of drug use and trafficking in Jamaica:
● A study in Western Jamaica revealed that 9.4% used cocaine, with 6.2% in the age
group 16-24 years.
● One in five Jamaicans identify as polysubstance users, predominated by marijuana as
the most common factor.
● Approximately 40% of the population report that they currently use alcohol (according to
the NCDA)
● Tobacco- 11% of the population report current use of cigarettes (NCDA) Ganja- Overall,
16% of the population currently uses ganja.
Causes of Drug Use and Trafficking

Two sociological theories that can be used to explain the causes of drug use and trafficking
are:-
● CONTROL THEORY- The control theory contends that substance use results when an
individual’s bond to society is weak or broken. Travis Hirschi theorised that the social
bonds integrating that person into the society have become fragile and damaged. Those
social bonds are what we rely on to establish conformity, because most people do what
is expected of them, because of their close ties to significant others who expect them to
obey social rules.
● STRAIN THEORY/ ANOMIE- Robert Merton adopted the term anomie and used it to
describe the strain felt by those members who could not conform to the norms expected
of them. Merton’s strain theory of crime and deviance states that those who could not
achieve success through legitimate means experienced social strain which encouraged
them to innovate and adapt, sometimes leading to deviant and criminal behaviours.
Merton tended to focus on members of the lower social classes who were experiencing
strain because of unequal opportunities.
Impacts of Drug Use and Trafficking on the society
● SOCIAL IMPACTS
Young people are being increasingly imprisoned for drug use, drug trafficking and
drug-related crimes. In the Caribbean, there are very harsh laws for possession of drugs,
resulting in some cases in three-year imprisonment terms.
Trafficking and abuse of drugs in the Caribbean affect nearly all aspects of our lives.
1. May result in death

2. May lead to addiction
3. Strain in the healthcare and justice systems
4. Loss of productivity
5. Environmental destruction
● ECONOMIC IMPACTS
Impact on productivity- Productivity losses are calculated as work that would be reasonably
expected to have been done if not for drug use (a loss of potential income and output and
therefore GDP) as a result of a reduction in the supply or effectiveness of the workforce.
Impact on public safety- Beyond health costs, people under the influence of drugs pose major
safety risks and costs to people around them and the environment. For example, drug-affected
driving accidents have emerged as a major global threat in recent years. Additionally, a greater
awareness of the impacts on the environment of illicit drug cultivation, production and
manufacture has emerged.
● POLITICAL IMPACTS
The impacts of mafias on the connection between political power and the social order are
highlighted by case studies of drug trafficking in Mexico and Colombia. Secondly, mafias strive
to impose social orders in outlying areas of society in addition to extorting money, primarily as
an unintentional result of their most evident political intervention: to grant criminals immunity
from potential threats of official persecution. Their competition with the state is based on more
than just their capacity to undermine it because of this goal. The Weberian assumption that the
modern state has a monopoly on coercion is challenged by their presence because their ability
to regulate society mostly results from their coercive power.
Sources
Hoffman RS, Goldfrank LR. The impact of drug abuse and addiction on society. Emerg Med Clin
North Am. 1990 Aug;8(3):467-80. PMID: 2201515.
National Council on Drug Abuse. (2020, December 30). Retrieved March 7, 2023, from
https://ncda.org.jm/
Criminality in Jamaica - the organized crime index. (n.d.). Retrieved March 8, 2023, from
https://ocindex.net/country/jamaica

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Sociology Unit II

DRUG USE AND TRAFFICKING

What is drug use and trafficking?

Why is drug trafficking considered a crime or deviant act?

Examples of drug use and trafficking:

Causes of Drug Use and Trafficking

Impacts of Drug Use and Trafficking on the society

1. May result in death

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