- 14 Feb 2019 17:41
#14988121
One reason why President Trump is demanding a border wall between the U.S. and Mexico is due to his belief that a wall will stop the flow of illicit opioids into the country. Opioids are definitely a problem in the U.S., and a lot of illicit substances do come across the border, but building an expensive wall won’t resolve the problem.
Border wall or no border wall – opioids will find a way to reach their destination. The majority of drugs coming from Mexico are smuggled by cars that pass through legal points of entry. Drug traffickers know exactly how law enforcement operates and some even have direct connections with law enforcement agents. Border patrol agents need updated, tactful resources to stay ahead of drug smugglers. Improvements should be made within border security, not through the construction of a $5.7 billion border wall.
Despite circumstances, drugs will always find a way to their destination – whether it is over the wall, under the wall, or right past the hands of border patrol agents. Manufacturers and traffickers will develop ways to move their business into the U.S. With drug trafficking being a $360 billion trade, they won’t give up simply because of a wall.
The deadly reality of addiction is that a person who is addicted can and will get their drugs in one way or another. The opioid epidemic is a problem across the country and the majority of illicit opioid users start by abusing prescription opioids. Approximately 191 million prescription opioids were dispensed in 2017 in the nation. Due to the high risk of dependence, many people who become addicted seek out illicit opioids when prescription opioids cease to produce the desired effects. A border wall will not stop those who are suffering from addiction from getting their fix.
If we are to decrease the demand for opioids as well as the rates of opioid addiction, the president should be focused on providing drug prevention education to our youth. They should be informed that more than 130 people die each day of an opioid related overdose. They need to be educated on the fact that opioid dependence can occur as quickly as one week after abusing opioids despite the fact that an average opioid prescription contains enough pills for 18 days.
San Diego border patrol agents agree that funding is best spent by increasing man power within the task force while increasing and improving their investigative capabilities. They explain that wiretaps and paid informants are a more effective method of catching drug traffickers. These officers add that border patrol can also be improved through better training regarding drug-sniffing canine ability and officer inspection training rather than a costly border wall.
Border wall or no border wall – opioids will find a way to reach their destination. The majority of drugs coming from Mexico are smuggled by cars that pass through legal points of entry. Drug traffickers know exactly how law enforcement operates and some even have direct connections with law enforcement agents. Border patrol agents need updated, tactful resources to stay ahead of drug smugglers. Improvements should be made within border security, not through the construction of a $5.7 billion border wall.
Despite circumstances, drugs will always find a way to their destination – whether it is over the wall, under the wall, or right past the hands of border patrol agents. Manufacturers and traffickers will develop ways to move their business into the U.S. With drug trafficking being a $360 billion trade, they won’t give up simply because of a wall.
The deadly reality of addiction is that a person who is addicted can and will get their drugs in one way or another. The opioid epidemic is a problem across the country and the majority of illicit opioid users start by abusing prescription opioids. Approximately 191 million prescription opioids were dispensed in 2017 in the nation. Due to the high risk of dependence, many people who become addicted seek out illicit opioids when prescription opioids cease to produce the desired effects. A border wall will not stop those who are suffering from addiction from getting their fix.
If we are to decrease the demand for opioids as well as the rates of opioid addiction, the president should be focused on providing drug prevention education to our youth. They should be informed that more than 130 people die each day of an opioid related overdose. They need to be educated on the fact that opioid dependence can occur as quickly as one week after abusing opioids despite the fact that an average opioid prescription contains enough pills for 18 days.
San Diego border patrol agents agree that funding is best spent by increasing man power within the task force while increasing and improving their investigative capabilities. They explain that wiretaps and paid informants are a more effective method of catching drug traffickers. These officers add that border patrol can also be improved through better training regarding drug-sniffing canine ability and officer inspection training rather than a costly border wall.