Wk 3 Assignment (drug war topic)

Running Head: DRUG WAR 1

Drug War

Brea P. Sylvester

HSM 101: Introduction to Homeland Security

Professor Sean Bottary

30 March 2020

DRUG WAR 2

Drug war

The department of homeland security is mandated to provide protection and counter

all threats to safety within the American border. It was founded after the September 11th

attack and deals with both natural and human-made disasters within the American border.

They address risks and counter threats in various fields such as terrorism, drugs, securing the

border, among others. This paper aims at analyzing the vulnerabilities of the department of

homeland security and how their goals are aligned to counter these threats and hazards

(Bullock et al., 2016).

One of the goals of the department of homeland security is to secure the U.S. borders

and approaches. To guarantee the security of a country, it is necessary to control the flow of

people and goods into the country. People who enter the U.S. illegally and those who

overstay even after their visas have expired pose the greatest threat to a country. These people

bring in with them illegal substances like drugs and weapons and jeopardize the country's

security. It is, therefore, necessary to secure the borders and approaches to ensure that no

unlawful deals are taking place within the country (DHS, 2019).

For a long time, the U.S. has been carrying out a war on drugs that has barely been

successful. The government has tried all means to fight illegal drug trade including

prohibiting drugs and military aid and intervention. Drug policies have been put in place to

discourage the sale and use of drugs but this has yielded little success. Drugs have been listed

among the leading enemies of the U.S. government that need to be fought against and

defeated (Wolf, 2016).

I chose this topic because the issue of drugs is a significant concern in this country.

The fight which has been going on for a long time is yet to be won. Most of the drugs sold

DRUG WAR 3

and used in America find their way into the country through borders that are not well secured.

One of the main goals of the department of homeland security is to secure the U.S. borders

and approaches. This topic will, therefore, enable me to align this vital goal of the department

with the war against drugs.

The drug war in the U.S. has resulted in other issues that the department of homeland

security needs to address to counter the sale and use of drugs in America effectively. War on

drugs has increased the population of prisoners in America, resulting in an increase in

financial cost as well as drug-related violence. These drawbacks have led to questioning if the

measures to counter drugs are in any way beneficial. Even though the American government

has invested a lot of money and effort in this course and succeeded in making the drugs less

accessible, the war has not been won. Instead, it has only led to a significant strain on the

department of criminal justice (Wolf, 2016).

Certain drawbacks are associated with the failure of the war against drugs. Most

people feel that prohibition is not enough and that the arrests are mainly racist. Drug-related

violence and financial costs remain a concern in this issue. Making drugs less accessible has

increased the cost of drugs, making them unaffordable to many people. This is a brilliant

move, but what needs to be done is to ensure that no drugs whatsoever will find their way

into the U.S. (Wolf, 2016).

This research will answer three principal research questions:

What is the role of the department of homeland security in the war against drugs?

How is the goal of securing the U.S. borders and approaches aligned with the war

against drugs?

What efforts has the department put in so far to help the country in the drug war?

DRUG WAR 4

These questions, if answered fully, will help us understand the role of the department

of homeland security in the ongoing war against drugs. It will also enable us to understand

how the goals of the department are aligned to solve the major issues that the American

government is facing. Additionally, we will be able to understand the efforts and measures

that the department has put in place to enable it to conduct the war against drugs.

DRUG WAR 5

References

Bullock, J. A., Haddow, G. D., & Coppola, D. P. (2016). Introduction to homeland

security: Principles of all-hazards risk management (5th ed.). Retrieved from https://

redshelf.com/

U.S. Department of Homeland Security. (2019). DHS Strategic Plan FY 2020-2014.

Retrieved from https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/19_0702_plcy_dhs-

strategic-plan-fy20-24.pdf

Wolf, S. (2016). Drugs, violence, and corruption: Perspectives from Mexico and

Central America. Latin American Politics and Society, 58(1), 146-155. Retrieved from https://

www.cambridge.org/core/journals/latin-american-politics-and-society/article/drugs-violence-

a n d - c o r r u p t i o n - p e r s p e c t i v e s - f r o m - m e x i c o - a n d - c e n t r a l - a m e r i c a /

8FD05EB89E7FDCF5D06812C94D390481

`