By Brianna Bennett

Copyright greaterbelize

Despite Heavy Investment, U.S. Drug Problem Starts Within Its Borders

The U.S. has poured massive resources into stopping narcotics from crossing its borders. But here’s the reality, officials admit that the real driver behind these criminal networks is demand at home. As long as Americans keep buying, these operations keep thriving. The Executive Director at the Midwest High Intensity Drug Traffic Area, Dan Niell says the U.S. has never claimed that it does not have a drug problem.

Dan Niell, Executive Director, Midwest HIDTA

“We have lost, we in the United States have lost more people in one year to gun violence and traffic accident for the entire year over drug overdoes. So, we recognize it is an issue. So we are addressing it by having law enforcement work with our public health partners to combat this problem. I don’t think we ever said that we don’t have a drug problem. We do and that was one of the biggest questions when I was in charge in my previous position, when I was in central America, the drug transit through Central America and where are they going? Most of them don’t stay in Central America. The end point is the United States. So, I never denied that was happening. Because when you deny that you have the problem, you are the problem.”