Every corner of the world is involved in some form of drug trafficking, read more to find out how this is affecting our world.

In the fast-paced omnipotence of time, prevalent issues in far corners of the world tend to flee our attention. The opioid crisis is one such issue. It is an epidemic that has cost the United States its citizens’ health and their social and economic welfare. With 128 people falling prey to overdoses every single day, the misuse and addiction of opioids are becoming a prolific threat to the future of the country.

Depraving the American economy of $2.15 trillion, the opioid crisis has impoverished 10.3 million lives, including those of children and adolescents. Myriads of drugs, including prescription pain relievers, heroin, and synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, have played a paramount role in fueling the onslaught. The pernicious effects of this crisis have been far-reaching with an increase in infectious diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis-C. The nation is also witnessing a rising incidence of neonatal abstinence syndrome in which a baby faces withdrawal symptoms as a result of exposure to drugs in the womb.

So what does this have to do with the rest of the world, you ask?

Every corner of the world is involved in some form of drug trafficking. Now that may range from production to distribution to consumption. It is a culmination of these factors from around the world that contributes to the American opioid crisis as well as drug abuse elsewhere.

Starting at production, a vast majority of the world’s illicitly produced opium comes from the regions of the Golden Crescent and the Golden Triangle. A part of the Golden Crescent, Afghanistan, serves as the apogee of narcotrafficking hubs by cultivating around 2600 tons of opium each year. It is this overproduction of drugs in comparison to the demand that predominantly drives drug trafficking. Over the past few years, production has upscaled significantly due to the introduction of new technologies and the relative ease of manufacturing synthetic opioids. Unfortunately, this expansion comes at the cost of numerous lives.

When it comes to drug trafficking, distribution is key. For this sole purpose, myriads of transnational routes have established their presence stealthily through international borders. The illicit drugs are transported, through all sorts of sources, such as naval carriers and aircrafts. However, the most concerning route of all is the one that transcends physical borders- the Dark Web. Delving into the layers of the dark web’s “Onion Router,”  the selling and purchasing of drugs has skyrocketed. Why? Because anonymity is the ace of spades. The dark web’s use of cryptocurrencies and bitcoins provides an undecipherable veil for entities involved in the lucrative drug trade. Alarmingly, the platform garners revenues between $170-$300 million per year through its drug distribution network.

Given the abominable scale of global drug trafficking and the opioid crisis, prevention is one of the preliminary steps in reducing the looming demand. The fabrics of the future are those that can be woven in the present. Therefore, the opioid crisis’ malevolent effects can be persisted through constant instillations of moral and educational values. It is of paramount importance that the future generations are made immune to the ill-fated calling of addiction. It is up to us to stop the impending doom of drug trafficking.