Drug interdiction, deterrence, and treatment efforts of the United States
Describe in detail the efforts US law enforcement puts in to interdiction of drugs to include smuggling, cultivation and manufacturing and sale.
Using cocaine, marijuana, ecstacy, heroine, fentanyl, and pharmaceutical drugs, describe in detail where the drug comes from and how it is delivered to the user.
Describe what law enforcement efforts are at interdiction.
Describe in detail the efforts by government to deter citizens from using drugs.
Describe in detail how each drug affects communities and cities across the US.
Describe in detail the treatment efforts in the US to reduce the harm produced by drug addiction and to treat drug addicts.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Essay: The Comprehensive Approach to Drug Interdiction, Deterrence, and Treatment in the United States
The United States faces a significant challenge in combating the illicit drug trade, which includes the smuggling, cultivation, manufacturing, and sale of substances such as cocaine, marijuana, ecstasy, heroin, fentanyl, and pharmaceutical drugs. These substances originate from various sources globally and are delivered to users through intricate supply chains. Law enforcement agencies play a critical role in interdicting these drugs at different stages of the distribution process.
Drug Interdiction Efforts:
1. Cocaine: Cocaine primarily originates from South American countries like Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia. It is often smuggled into the U.S. through maritime routes, hidden in cargo shipments or transported by drug mules.
2. Marijuana: Marijuana cultivation occurs both domestically and internationally. In the U.S., states like California and Colorado have seen significant growth in legal cultivation. Illicit marijuana is often smuggled from Mexico or grown clandestinely within the country.
3. Ecstasy: Ecstasy, also known as MDMA, is a synthetic drug produced in clandestine laboratories. The precursor chemicals are often imported from countries like China and the Netherlands. Ecstasy pills are typically trafficked through mail or courier services.
4. Heroin: Heroin originates mainly from poppy cultivation in countries like Afghanistan and Mexico. It is smuggled into the U.S. through various means, including hidden compartments in vehicles, body cavities of individuals, or shipped in cargo containers.
5. Fentanyl: Fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid, is often manufactured in illicit laboratories in China and Mexico. It is trafficked into the U.S. through postal services, courier shipments, and increasingly found mixed with other drugs like heroin.
6. Pharmaceutical Drugs: Prescription drugs are diverted from legitimate sources or obtained through illegal online pharmacies. They are distributed through various channels, including pill mills, doctor shopping, and illegal online sales.
Law Enforcement Strategies:
Law enforcement agencies employ a range of strategies to interdict drug trafficking activities, including intelligence gathering, surveillance, undercover operations, border security measures, and interagency cooperation. These efforts aim to disrupt drug supply chains, dismantle trafficking networks, and apprehend individuals involved in illicit drug activities.
Deterrence Efforts:
The U.S. government implements deterrence strategies to discourage drug use among citizens. These include public awareness campaigns, school-based prevention programs, community outreach initiatives, and law enforcement efforts targeting drug dealers and distributors. Deterrence aims to educate individuals about the risks and consequences of drug abuse and promote healthy lifestyles.
Impact on Communities:
Each of the mentioned drugs has varying impacts on communities and cities across the U.S. These include increased crime rates, strain on healthcare systems, economic costs, social disintegration, and loss of productivity. Drug abuse contributes to addiction, overdoses, violence, and other negative outcomes that affect individuals, families, and communities.
Treatment Efforts:
The U.S. has implemented comprehensive treatment programs to address drug addiction and reduce harm associated with substance abuse. These programs include medication-assisted treatment, counseling services, support groups, residential rehabilitation facilities, and mental health interventions. The goal is to provide individuals struggling with addiction the necessary resources to recover and lead healthy lives.
In conclusion, the fight against drug abuse in the United States involves multifaceted approaches that encompass interdiction efforts, deterrence strategies, community impact assessments, and treatment initiatives. By combining law enforcement actions with prevention and treatment programs, the nation aims to address the complex challenges posed by illicit drug activities and support individuals in overcoming addiction.
