How Drug Trafficking Impacts The Economy and The World at Large

Introduction

At the mention of drug and substance abusers, one might not expect to find highly respectable figures in society. However, a quick scan of the background of numerous public figures reveals their secret or not-so-secret addictions to drugs such as opium and cocaine. Sigmund Freud, a renowned neurologist and psychologist, claimed to be a cocaine user. His use of the drug was, however, medical, lasting for only three years. He explored the effects of the drug and wrote extensively about how it induces exhilaration and euphoria in his critically acclaimed papers, “Uber Coca” (The Quick 10: 10 Famous People and Their Drug Habits, 2016). Due to the high number of morphine addicts during his time, Freud suggested cocaine as an alternative to help with addiction. He also suggested the use of cocaine as a painkiller during surgeries.

Drug Use Among Famous Figures

Lewis Carroll, a British writer and poet known for "Alice in Wonderland," was also known for his indulgence in opium use. Carroll is said to have suffered terrible migraines and used opium to help with the headaches. He also claimed that opium helped with his creativity and artistry (The Quick 10: 10 Famous People and Their Drug Habits, 2016). Whitney Houston, the celebrated Pop and RnB singer, met her untimely death at the age of forty-eight. Her body was found lying in the bathtub of her hotel room, and the post mortem revealed that her death was caused by a heart attack following the excessive use of cocaine (The Quick 10: 10 Famous People and Their Drug Habits, 2016).

The Role of the Parsees in the Opium Trade

The Parsees of India are one of the major Zoroastrian communities who migrated from Greater Iran to the Gujarati and Sindh regions of India. They migrated to avoid persecution from Muslims following the Muslim conquest of Persia in the 8th century (Palsetia, 2008). They practice Zoroastrianism and are staunch followers of the Iranian prophet Zoroaster. During the opium trade of the 17th and 18th centuries, the Parsees served as agents of the British in the trade. They sold opium on behalf of the British to the Chinese (Palsetia, 2008). Following their involvement in the trade, the Parsees' social status in India rose. They became economically and academically prominent as they earned favor among the British. The once insular and neglected community rose to become imperialists of their time, becoming more prosperous and influential. The British, on the other hand, used the proceeds from the opium trade to offset the imbalance of payment with China. Chinese products such as tea, silk, and porcelain were in high demand in Britain and other Western countries. With the high demand for such products, the balance of payment was in favor of the Chinese, but the steadily increasing profits from the opium trade shifted the balance to be in favor of the British (Palsetia, 2008).

Impact of Drug Trafficking on Economies

One of the major impacts of illicit cash flows from drug trafficking is their blow to the economic growth and development of a country, mainly affecting developing countries in South and Central America. They stunt economic growth by depriving the nation of critical resources that would have aided its growth. Since illicit cash flows are not taxed, this money does not go towards constructive projects such as infrastructure, education, and the provision of other social amenities (Herkenrath, 2014). The proceeds from drug trafficking are not used to stimulate other legitimate businesses, accounting for the fact that the gap between the poor and the rich in South and Central American countries continues to widen (Herkenrath, 2014). The drug traffickers, who are the wealthiest in these countries, continue to amass wealth, while the poor owners of legitimate businesses continue to languish in poverty and close down their businesses. This cycle of inequality perpetuates social unrest and hampers efforts towards sustainable development in the region.

References

The Quick 10: 10 Famous People and Their Drug Habits. (2016). Retrieved from http://www.mentalfloss.com

Palsetia, J. (2008). The Parsees of India: Preservation of Identity in Bombay City. Brill Academic Publishers.

Herkenrath, M. (2014). Illicit Financial Flows and Development: The Case of Developing Countries in South and Central America. Global Policy Forum.