Drug Violence in Mexico

Even though the number of illegal substance users has dropped by nearly 50 percent in the last 30 years, some drugs, such as methamphetamines, are still on the rise.  Whether it’s marijuana, cocaine, heroin or meth, drug cartels in Mexico are a major supplier of illegal drugs.  There is increasing violence in Mexico involving not only drug dealers and police, but innocent civilians as well.

The demand for drugs by users in the U.S. fuels the violence that the cartels use to keep their businesses going.  Besides authorities being killed, some drug dealers have targeted civilians, including a group of people who were celebrating Independence Day and had a grenade thrown at them by members of a drug cartel.

This is a video from The New York Times that covers the drug cartels in Mexico and the violence that is a result of the drug wars.

The illegal drug users that I know have argued that it is their choice to use drugs because it only affects their body and no one else.  I used to go along with this way of thinking because, even though I don’t think it’s a good idea to use drugs, I thought as long as it wasn’t hurting anybody but the user than it should be their choice.  However, as long as there is demand for the drugs that the Mexican drug cartels are selling, there will continue to be violence.

Sure, maybe if all drugs were just legalized, there wouldn’t be so much violence.  However, as long as it is illegal there will be people losing their lives so some addict in the U.S. can get their high for the day.  Anybody that is still okay with using drugs despite all of the killing going on because of the drug wars is not okay with me.