Narconon of Georgia  

This article has a few very interesting points.  The first is the fact that Mexican authorities have it right – arrest the big guys in cartels and give the drug abuser a chance to address their addiction in drug treatment.

Another point, that warrants a full study, is the fact that while the Mexican cartel targets American youth with their heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine and pot, their own citizens do not have the drug problem anywhere near the degree that we do in the US.

This indicates purposeful target marketing and sales to American youth by the cartels.  It also indicates that while our government appears helpless to do anything substantial to stop the drugs coming in that our killing our youth, Mexico does not really have this problem – yet they have the cartels.

This article underscores the fact that we must take drug prevention and effective drug rehab into our own hands locally. 

Narconon drug treatment 877-413-3-73

“When gunmen stormed a drug rehab center in northern Mexico, lined up addicts against the wall and shot them execution-style, Mexico’s drug cartels sent a powerful message to drug addicts working the streets as retail drug suppliers: You are in this for life.

Mexico’s strategy in decriminalizing possession of small quantities of marijuana, cocaine, heroin and other drugs is an effort to address the growing problem of drug addiction in Mexico – and to address the multitudes of petty drug addicts who form a vast distribution network feeding a growing drug addiction problem. In Mexico, as everywhere, drug users become drug dealers to support their habit.

While the number of drug users in Mexico, estimated at 450,000 (as reported in the New York Times is insignificant compared to the U.S., where there were more than 20 million drug users in 2006, Mexico wants to avoid the social problems of the United States, where there are 46 times as many habitual drug users.

“Mexico’s decision to decriminalize possession of small amounts for personal use is a way of making it possible for drug addicts to not fear the police or health system, step forward and seek the help they need,” said Jose Romero, a health care provider. “We want people to come in off the streets and not fear that they will be arrested if they have drugs on them.”

Rather than coddling addicts, however, Mexico’s laws toughen penalties for repeat offenders. If caught with drugs, a person is not arrested, but police record his or her name, address and telephone number. This information is sent to the Health Ministry, which contacts the person and informs him or her of the treatment options closest to their residence. Repeat offenders are ordered to report to rehab, and failure to do so can result in their arrest. Those arrested, however, now face mandatory prison time, which has been increased across the board.

Mexican addicts, in essence, are being given several opportunities to clean themselves up before facing jail time. This stands in sharp contrast to the United States, where 800,000 arrests are made annually for marijuana possession alone. “The decision by the Mexican government to decriminalize the consumption of small amounts of drugs constitutes a step in the right direction after decades of failed policy,” Juan Carlos Hidalgo, the Cato Institute’s project coordinator for Latin America, told the New York Times. “It is in line with efforts by other Latin American leaders and governments who are increasingly skeptical of Washington’s prohibitionist drug policies.”

But what may be sound public policy is a challenge to the power drug cartels wield in Mexico.”

http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=4559bd69c4e883b4f39dac9e5dd76e94