The simple truth is that the disproportional treatment for what is essentially two forms of the same drug is effecting minorities at an alarming rate. While evidence exists for some form of a disparity to exist between sentencing requirements for crack vs. powder cocaine, due mainly to crack cocaine’s typical use and distribution methods, the current ration of 100:1 is unjustifiable. Exemplified by recent statistics, something needs to be done immediately to rectify the current disparate impact on the African American community specifically as well as afford that population its constitutional rights under the 14th amendment. What is in place now is policy that targets the socially and economically disadvantaged, further ingraining a distrust for law enforcement and government in an already disenfranchised
Drugs, whether legal or illegal, are substances that have a physiological effect when ingested or introduced into the system. The abuse of substances can have devastating effects including death, legal repercussions, loss of personal relationships, addictions and loss of employment. Contrary to popular belief, the use of drugs is not a new phenomenon. In fact, many have played a significant part in the world’s current drug problem (Ruetsch, Boni & Borgeat, 2001). Opium, for instance, was derived from the sap of Opium Poppy during the Neolithic times.
Cocaine is another stimulant that often leads to dependence in users. It is derived from coca leaves, and was once a socially acceptable drug. Coca Cola used cocaine along with caffeine and sugar to produce one of western society’s most popular beverages (Rathus 113). Nicotine is yet another frequently abused stimulant prevalent in our time. Smoking is the primary causal factor for at least 30% of all cancer deaths, for nearly 80% of deaths from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and for early cardiovascular disease and deaths (Adhikari B., PhD, J Kahende, PhD, A Malarcher, PhD, T Pechacek, PhD, V Tong 1).
When president of Cuba Fidel Castro agreed to allow citizens to leave in response to a tough Cuban economy, many of them departed to the United States and landed in South Florida which increased the crime rate in the city of Miami. However Cuba wasn’t the only country that was responsible for the crimes in Miami during the 1980s. Colombia was also involved in the Cocaine business in Miami. Based on the movie Cocaine Cowboys, it shows how John Roberts, Mickey Munday, Rafa Cardona Salazar, Max Mermestein was importing drugs into Florida. Jon Roberts who flooded Miami with $2 billion worth of cocaine in the '80s,was one of the drug trafficker and government informant who operated in the Miami area and was an associate of Medellín Cartel during the growth phase in cocaine trafficking.
Cocaine Kids showed how society views most drug dealer, with stereotyping them as gangsters with big gold rope necklaces, fresh kicks, and nice cars. It was a bigger chance that the Cocaine Kids would get caught because of where they lived, the areas that they stayed in promoted drug use. There was more of a risk of being caught for drug dealing that is why certain extensive procedures were followed in Cocaine Kids. It was to the degree of the market almost having its own “miniature society with institutions, laws, morality, language codes in behaviors of its own.” (Williams, pg.2). A person would think people with money would be looked down upon because they buy these illegal drugs but there is less stigmatizing because they have disposable money.
Like most other illicit drugs, crack cocaine remains extremely insidious, because even with the possibility of death, drug addicts continue to use without caution. “When entered into the body, crack cocaine takes affect almost immediately.” (Emmit). The feeling of euphoria gained by using crack fades much quicker than the painful after-effects. Short-term effects of using crack cocaine include short bursts of increased energy, decreased appetite, increased temperature, mental anxiety, constricted blood vessels, and increased heart rates. As crack cocaine use continues, the effects felt from the drug continue to get more severe.
One of the most popular drugs invented in this decade was LSD also known as acid, which is a hallucinogenic drug (Neary 122). Teens were very drawn to this type of drug because it would cause you to trip and feel like you were in another world. They used this type of drug to escape from the “Establishment.” Another very popular drug at the time was marijuana, at the time it was better know as grass or dope (Miller 201). According to Jay Stevens “It became a ritual-sitting around with your friends, passing a joint from person to person, listening to music, eating, talking, joking, maybe making out-all the senses heightened”(Miller 201). For hippies and other teen’s drugs weren’t thought of as a bad thing, it was more of a social and fun thing to
Ecstasy is a direct relative of Molly, however, Ecstasy is MDMA combined with other potentially toxic of deadly chemicals, and may contain other substances in addition to MDMA. MDMA or Molly, as it is known in code, is the pure form of the drug 3, 4 -methylenedioxymethamphetamine. The effects of Molly are much more dangerous compared to Ecstasy. Ecstasy stimulates the release of the neurotransmitter serotonin from brain neurons, that can produce a high effect lasting anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. The effects vary based on the person taking the drug, as well
In South America coca leaves have been chewed for centuries to combat fatigue and hunger . In Europe it was used for toothaches, digestive problems, and even timidity. By the 1850’s the chemical of the coca plant was isolated, and Alfred Niemann named it cocaine after noticing it had an anesthetic effect on his tongue. Sigmund Freud promoted it for the treatment of mental problems and depression. Soon after, some negative effects were discovered and this caused a decrease in use.
Several diseases will easily attack teenagers consuming drugs. Smoking, for instance, is the one of the risky activity related with the use of drug where a cigarette contains substances, which can be classified as a kind of drug. In addition, we need to know what the definition of drug is. Drug is the material or substance, which can change minds, moods or feelings, and behaviour when it comes into the human body, through inhaling, injecting or oral. More over, drugs can also make them who use drugs become addicted.