What are the different ways cocaine is transported into the United States through Mexico Region?

What are the different ways cocaine is transported into the United States through Mexico Region?

            My question that I was searching information on was since cocaine largest consumption is in the United States, what are the different ways that cocaine is transported into the United States through the Mexico, Caribbean’s, etc? After doing some research this is what I found out that the U.S./Mexico border is the primary point of entry for cocaine shipments being smuggled into the United States. There is approximately 65 percent of cocaine smuggled into the United States crosses the southwest border. It’s interesting to learn that actual organized crime groups operate in Colombia control the worldwide supply of cocaine. There are actual key managers in Colombia that continue to oversee the overall operations that take place. It’s interesting to learn that Colombia-based drug groups have allowed Mexico-based trafficking organizations to play an increasing role in the U.S. cocaine trade. By the mid-1990’s, Mexico-based transportation groups were receiving up to half the cocaine shipment they smuggled for the Colombia-based groups in exchange for their services.

            Now today traffickers operating from Colombia continue to control the wholesale-level cocaine distribution that are heavily populated northeastern United States and all along the eastern seaboard in cities such as Boston, Miami, Newark, New York, and Philadelphia. The operating from Mexico wholesales go through the Midwestern United States. These cities conclude of Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angele, Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco, and Seattle. But during the 1990’s when the organized crime group from Mexico were expanding their roles as cocaine transporters and wholesale-level distributors control operations were in southern California. Now today, Chicago is the key command and control center for cocaine operations, and with that being said Atlanta is increasingly important as the trafficking hub for cocaine.

            So when it comes to the drug smuggling from the Mexico and Colombia area is that they actually ended up working with one another. They figured that they could actually benefit from one another and increase their profits. They were able to smuggle more drugs in the U.S. than any other route known. That is why many of the forces have really started to crack down to control this problem and keep it from occurring. Drug trafficking corporations have tried to come up with new ways that these smugglers are trying to come up with. But everyday these drug bases are coming up with new ways to get around the traffickers, yet it’s still a process that keeps everyone on their toes.  

Samantha N D

Source:

http://www.policyalmanac.org/crime/archive/drug_trafficking.shtml

How Does Dancing Release Stress?

Dance is an outlet for emotional expression, stress reduction, and creativity that benefits youth during stressful situations by channeling their energy positively and helping them bind with their peers. Dance was also found to increase life satisfaction. Dance has also been shown to stimulate brain function.  Dance is a completely natural approach to stress management. It's also an important part of self expression. It is often used as a part of the recovery process for people with chronic illness. Therapeutically, dance uses movement to improve the overall well being of an individual both physically and mentally. These are all of the reasons why I love to dance because it does exactly these things to my body. I believe that's why I have to do it from time to time because it releases all of the stress that I have from being in school.

sources:http://www.the-standard.org/life/dancing-boosts-health-relieves-stress/article_63b27627-c2cc-59cd-832c-14c8a2319487.html

Angel Morrisey

What are the long-term effects of Ecstasy (MDMA)?

Ecstasy is a synthetic drug that contains amphetamine and hallucinogenic properties. It is a stimulant drug. While there are many threatening short-term effects of Ecstasy, there are also plenty of dangerous long-term effects that can become permanent. Ecstasy is very toxic to the brain and can, therefor, destroy part of your brain. MDMA is known to affect the neurons that use serotonin to communicate with other neurons. It also may cause memory loss to the user. Ecstasy can also cause seizures and affect the heart's ability to maintain normal rhythms.

Many MDMA users will acquire serious injuries because of the hallucinations. Many times, the hallucinations can cause very disturbing images and cause the user to do anything in their power to escape. More long term effects include: kidney failure, bleeding in the brain, dehydration, or even death.

Ecstasy is definitely not a drug to mess with because it can be so dangerous. Long term effects, such as brain damage, is irreversible and will affect the user in an extremely negative way for the rest of their life.

Sources:
www.thegooddrugsguide.com
www.drugfree.org/drug-guide/ecstasy

Jamie LW

 

How are drugs detected in the body?

       Drugs are detected in the body by taking samples of urine, saliva, breath air, hair, blood, sweat and body fluids.  There is a ten panel drug test that is used to detect certain drugs.  Those drugs are: Cocaine, Methadone, propoxyphene, Tricyclic antidepressants, Synthetic cannabinoids, Phencyclidine, Opiates, Methaqualone, Cannabinoids, Amphetamines, Buprenorphine, and Barbiturates.

            I thought it was interesting that scape hair testing can detect drugs for a period of 30 to 90 days but body hair can detect drugs in a period of up to a year because it grows at a slower rate.  Cocaine can be detected in the urine 2 to 5 days except for heavy users it can be detected 7 to 10 days.  It can be detected up to 90 days in the hair and 2 to 10 days in the blood. Cannabis can be detected in the urine for up to 3 to 4 days and heavy users up to 10 days.  It’s detected in the hair for up to 90 days and in the blood 2 to 3 days and 2 weeks for heavy users. 

           

 

 Vernita M. R.

December 7, 2013

 

 

Source

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_test

 

How Can I Slowly Start To Change My Bad Eating Habits?

I learned that I need to take baby steps when changing my diet. Making changes in how I live and eat can have a major effect on my health. Some suggestions that I saw from health experts were to start my day with a nutritious breakfast, get eight hours of sleep each night, eat my seated at a table without distractions, reduce my portions by 20% or give up second meals, and try lower fat dairy products. I also learned that I need to become more mindful of what I'm eating and drinking. When you become more aware of what you're eating you'll notice how you need to change your diet and what all you need to do. Some people benefit from diets by keeping food diaries. When starting a healthy food diet you need to make a plan and be specific. You need to write down your options clear to where you can understand what you're going to do during this diet. Also you need to have a new mini goal each week that you set for yourself. These mini goals will eventually add to make a major change in what you're doing. Make changes in how you prepare your meals each day. Watch what you put on your food. You also need to be realistic with your goal, don't put too much on yourself so soon because that won't help at all. You won't do very well and you'll stress yourself out. Going slow will help you keep the pace going and that way you can build up your tolerance. Last but not least you need focus on practicing stress management. Focus on dealing with stress with whatever works for you so that you won't fall back on your goal. 

Source:http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/6-steps-to-changing-bad-eating-habits?page=2

Angel Morrisey

Sex Education

Anysha 

Sex education has its advantages and disadvantages with many parents. Some advantages are that recent studies show that there has been a decrease in teen pregnancy. Along with decreasing teen pregnancy: sti’s have been reduced. However many parents do not believe in sexual education being taught within the schools. This is because sex ed interferes with their religion or values. They believe that this encourages children to have sex rather than informing them. Other parents feel as though that it is their duty to talk and inform their own children about sex not the school.  

http://www.ehow.com/info_8181030_advantages-disadvantages-sex-education-school.html

Why are circumcision rate decreasing?

Circumcision rates are declining in the U.S. and all over the world. New research showed that there is no health benefits for circumcision. However, the research on this changes constantly. People suggest that it is cruel to circumcise their children and are opting against it. Some insurance companies have stopped covering it on their health plan making it too expensive for families. All of these reasons have resulted in a slight decline. With information about circumcision constantly changing the rates keep going up and down until solid research comes out.



http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/08/22/u-s-circumcision-rates-are-declining/?_r=0
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/circumcision-rates-declining-especially-in-western-states/