DRUGS THRIVING IN GLOBAL MARKET

There is some extremely disturbing news in the latest report of the
Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean. It reveals that,
"Latin America produces the bulk of marijuana, all the world's cocaine and
a growing proportion of heroin."

The commission warns that the widespread availability of drugs is "creating
a culture of illegality," which is breaking down society.

Latin America is still essentially a producer of drugs, rather than a
consumer, but the report notes that countries which are not producers,
notably Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Venezuela, are increasingly being used
to ship drugs, causing widespread corruption of public institutions in
these countries. The increasing ease of communication and transportation
has made it possible for the drug cartels to expand their destructive
enterprises.

Without a doubt, drug trafficking is the most dangerous aspect of
globalization. The United States, as the major consumer of drugs and, quite
likely, where most drug-trafficking profits are invested, must take the
lead in forging cooperation between all the countries that are involved in
or affected by this scourge.

The (Charleston, S.C.) Post and Courier