How Drug Trafficking Impacts The Economy and The World at Large

At the mention of drug and substance abusers, one might not expect to find highly respectable figures in the society. However, a quick scan of the background of numerous public figures and you will realize 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 which lasted for only three years. He explored the effects of the drug and wrote extensively how when induced causes 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 the addiction. He also suggested the use of cocaine as a painkiller during surgeries.

Lewis Carroll, British writer and poet known for Alice in Wonderland, was also known for his indulgence in opium use. Carroll is said to have 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 bath tub of her hotel room and the post mortem revealed that her death was caused by aheart attack following the excessiveuse of cocaine(The Quick 10: 10 Famous People and Their Drug Habits, 2016).

The Parsees of India are on of the major communities of Zoroastrian communities who migrated from the 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 century, the Parsees served as agents of the British in the trade. They soldopium 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 economic and academic 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 tea, silk and porcelain were in high demand in Britain and other Western countries. With the high demand of 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).

One of the major impact of illicit cash flows from drug trafficking is their blow to the economic growth and development of a country mainly 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 flowsare not taxed, this money does not go towards constructive projects such infrastructure, education and 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 the South and Central American countries(Herkenrath, 2014). The drug traffickers who are the richest in these countries continue to pile up their wealth while the poor owners of legitimate business continue to languish in poverty and closing down their businesses.