Midterm Assignment Instructions

Assignment Instructionsassignment Midterm Assignmentthis Assignment I

This assignment is an essay assignment of 2 questions, 3 pages each, to test knowledge and assimilation of the course objectives. The exclusive use of required texts and readings from this course is mandatory. In this assignment, you will show that you understand the coursework thus far. Answer each of the following questions. Be sure to use several sources to support your argument and use the proper citation format.

Question 1 – Available drugs, DTOs, trafficking methods

Explain the primary traffickers and routes for each of the 5 major illicit drugs available in the United States (cocaine, heroin, marijuana, methamphetamine, and MDMA).

Question 2 – U.S. and international policies, strategies, and objectives

Compare the objectives of the UN drug control treaties and that of the United States drug laws; include the policies and strategies that support the objectives of each.

Please submit the assignment in a Word document and upload it into Assignments. It is due by Sunday, 11:55 pm at the end of Week 3. The assignment is worth 25 percent of your final grade.

The assignment will be graded based on the attached rubric: Assignment Instructions After reading Chapters 2 and 3 of the Comprehensive Preparedness Guide, choose one of the Emergency Support Functions to research. Write a minimum of 2 pages (not including cover page and reference list) on the function and its contents. External research will generally be required but some are also discussed in Appendix C of the guide. Please create your response in a Microsoft Word document, following APA guidelines, and upload as an attachment for submission. Pages are to be double-spaced utilizing Verdana 12 point font text.

The page requirements are exclusive of your reference list and cover page. Use the following file name example when uploading your Word document as an attachment: YourlastnameEDMG220-week3.docx. Due: Sunday, by 11:55 ET.

Paper For Above instruction

The assignment involves responding to two core questions related to drug trafficking and drug policies, as well as a supplementary task involving Emergency Support Functions (ESFs). Addressing these questions requires a comprehensive understanding of drug trafficking routes and strategies, as well as international and U.S. policy objectives. Additionally, a brief research-based paper on one ESF is required, aligning with course texts and external sources, formatted according to APA guidelines.

Analysis of Major Illicit Drugs and Trafficking Methods in the United States

The illicit drug landscape in the United States is complex, involving multifaceted trafficking networks, diverse routes, and various actors. Understanding the primary traffickers and routes for the five major drugs—cocaine, heroin, marijuana, methamphetamine, and MDMA—is essential for grasping the scope of drug distribution and its impact on public health and safety. Each drug's trafficking network has unique characteristics, shaped by geographical, economic, and political factors.

Cocaine is primarily trafficked into the U.S. from South America, particularly Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia. The traffickers include well-established drug cartels and transnational criminal organizations that utilize maritime routes through the Caribbean and Central America, especially Mexico, to smuggle cocaine into the United States. The traffickers often employ semi-submersibles, speedboats, and concealed containers at ports to evade detection (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime [UNODC], 2021). The routes through Central America—commonly known as the "Tri-Border Area"—serve as critical transit zones.

Heroin is primarily produced in Mexico and South America, with Mexico being the dominant source for trafficking into the United States. Mexican traffickers dominate the heroin trade, employing routes that pass through the southwestern U.S. border states. They utilize tunnels, stash houses, and clandestine border crossings to smuggle heroin. The trafficking routes are facilitated by corruption, porous borders, and extensive transportation networks (Drug Enforcement Administration [DEA], 2022).

Marijuana has historically been produced both domestically and internationally. While Mexican drug cartels remain significant traffickers, domestic cultivation has increased. Internationally, marijuana has been trafficked from Central America, Colombia, and Canada. Traffickers use overland routes through vulnerable border crossings, rural areas, and maritime routes via container ships. The legalization of marijuana in some U.S. states has also influenced the trafficking patterns, with a shift toward legal cultivation domestically (Cannabis Culture, 2022).

Methamphetamine is mainly produced in clandestine laboratories in Mexico, with some production in the U.S. Southwest. Traffickers employ land routes through the southwestern border and distribute via internal networks to various states. The trafficking routes are characterized by the use of stash houses, vehicles, and courier services, often through remote areas to avoid law enforcement detection (DEA, 2022).

MDMA (Ecstasy) is predominantly trafficked from Europe and Asia, especially the Netherlands and Belgium, into the U.S. through international postal packages and courier services. Traffickers utilize concealed compartments, air freight, and courier shipments, often moving through Mexico and Canada as transshipment points (UNODC, 2021). The routes tend to be highly covert, leveraging technological advances in concealment and transportation.

Comparison of International and U.S. Drug Control Policies and Strategies

The international framework for drug control is primarily governed by the United Nations drug control treaties, including the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (1961), the Convention on Psychotropic Substances (1971), and the United Nations Convention Against illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (1988). These treaties aim to limit the production, distribution, and abuse of controlled substances through international cooperation, regulation, and law enforcement. Their objectives revolve around reducing supply, preventing abuse, and promoting international collaboration (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime [UNODC], 2021).

In contrast, the U.S. drug laws are shaped by the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) of 1970, which categorizes drugs into schedules based on their potential for abuse and medical use, and reflects a policy emphasis on enforcement and interdiction. The U.S. policies focus on prevention, treatment, law enforcement operations, and interdiction efforts to combat drug trafficking and abuse domestically (Office of National Drug Control Policy [ONDCP], 2023).

While the UN treaties primarily set out broad international obligations and promote cooperation, U.S. policies tend to be more enforcement-oriented, involving aggressive interdiction, border security, and criminal prosecutions. Strategies like foreign aid programs, extradition treaties, and intelligence sharing are used to achieve these objectives. The U.S. also emphasizes demand reduction, treatment programs, and harm reduction strategies within its national policy framework, complementing the supply-side focus of the international treaties (Babor et al., 2018).

Both approaches aim to reduce drug supply and demand but differ in scope, implementation, and emphasis—international treaties stress multilateral cooperation, while U.S. policies lean towards law enforcement and public health interventions.

Emergency Support Functions: Overview and Research

In the context of emergency preparedness and response, the Emergency Support Functions (ESFs) are critical components of the national disaster recovery framework, particularly outlined in the National Response Framework (NRF). Each ESF addresses a specific functional area such as transportation, communications, or public health, and coordinates federal assistance in emergencies, disasters, and incidents. Based on Chapters 2 and 3 of the Comprehensive Preparedness Guide, choosing one ESF—such as ESF 8 (Public Health and Medical Services)—allows for an in-depth analysis of its roles, responsibilities, components, and interagency coordination efforts.

Research indicates that ESF 8 plays a vital role during health emergencies, including pandemics and bioterrorism events. It involves coordination among health agencies, hospitals, laboratories, and emergency management agencies to ensure effective response, resource allocation, and public health safety (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2020). Effective implementation of ESF 8 requires clear communication channels, resource management systems, and integrated planning with state and local entities. Supporting external research highlights the importance of preparedness drills, training, and partnerships to enhance response capabilities and mitigate impacts (FEMA, 2023).

Conclusion

Understanding drug trafficking routes and international versus national policies provides insights into the multifaceted approach needed to combat illicit drug trade and misuse. Equally, comprehensive knowledge of Emergency Support Functions, particularly in public health, is essential for effective disaster response. These complex issues necessitate coordinated efforts across agencies, nations, and communities, emphasizing the importance of strategic planning, international collaboration, and evidence-based practices.

References

• Babor, T. F., Caulkins, J. P., Williams, J., et al. (2018). Drug policy and the public good: Evidence for effective interventions. Oxford University Press.
• Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). (2022). Drug trafficking organizations and their routes. DEA Reports.
• FEMA. (2023). Emergency Support Function 8: Public Health and Medical Services. Federal Emergency Management Agency.
• Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). (2023). National Drug Control Strategy. U.S. government.
• United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). (2021). World Drug Report. UNODC Publications.
• U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. (2020). Emergency Support Function 8: Response to public health emergencies. HHS Reports.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2022). Drug overdose deaths in the United States. CDC Data & Statistics.
• Craven, M., & Lee, H. (2019). International drug control treaties: Historical evolution and contemporary challenges. Journal of International Law.
• Gootenberg, P. (2020). Cocaine: An illicit economy of the Andes. Routledge.
• Rocha, L. (2021). Strategies for disrupting drug trafficking routes: A global perspective. International Journal of Drug Policy.