Unit VII Research Paper CG

1

Unit V Research Paper

Justin Erby

228342

SOC 2010-18K-3A22-S1

Cultural Geography

2

Puerto Rico and its Urban Problems

The global community typically Cities, towns, and urban centers usually experience

multiple and interrelated social and economic problems that demand concerted efforts of all

primary stakeholders to address successfully. Indeed, the island of Puerto Rico and San Juan city,

in particular, is no exception to the myriad social and economic challenges associated with

enhanced urbanization and globalization, which considerably affect human relationships and

wellbeing (Abadie et al., 2021). Notably, overcrowding, drug trafficking, alcohol, and

psychoactive substances form significant social and economic problems bedeviling San Juan,

Puerto Rico.

The Background Information about Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is a globally renowned Caribbean island, an unincorporated territory under the

US. Its location is strategic within the North-East of the Caribbean Sea. It is approximately a

thousand kilometers to the southeast of Miami, Florida (Caetano et al., 2019). Before becoming a

territory in the US, it was a colony of Spain after the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1493

(Issacharoff et al., 2019). Since 1917, Puerto Ricans officially joined the American community,

which happened following its acquisition by the US. Spanish and English are the recognized

official communication languages in this region, with the former language dominating. The

majority of this population group are Christians, with the predominant Catholic denomination.

Today, it comprises different races, ethnicities, and cultures following globalization. In other

words, it is a culturally diverse and inclusive territory.

The island of Puerto Rico boasts a vast population, approximately 3.2 million people, with

San Juan being the most densely populated city in the region (Issacharoff et al., 2019). Currently,

3

several towns are found in Puerto Rico, with San Juan being the central city. In other words, most

areas of Puerto Rico comprise urban centers or cities following increased urbanization and

globalization witnessed in the recent past. Because of enhanced urbanization and globalization,

multiple social and economic issues emerge to influence public relations and wellbeing. Notably,

alcohol, drugs, and prostitution form a more significant proportion of the socio-economic

challenges in this region.

The Main Social Problems Facing Puerto Rico

Alcoholism is a fast-growing social issue in this region, primarily affecting psychosocial,

economic growth alongside development. In other words, intoxication fundamentally impairs

overall health and wellness alongside considerably reducing socio-economic growth, development,

alongside personal and organizational prosperity (Abadie et al., 2021). In other words, excessive

intoxication significantly affects human productivity and effective service delivery required to

realize substantial growth and development. The unprecedented upsurge in alcoholism in this

region happens following the low economic activity and productivity compared to its developed

partners, such as the US. Similarly, the availability of the same alongside idleness necessitates an

increased rate of alcoholism among people, including minors. Especially, juvenile engagement in

alcoholism is a worrying trend witnessed in this area.

Aside from alcoholism is the challenge of illegal drug possession, use, and trafficking in

many Puerto Rican towns, especially San Juan. Similar to what goes on in other major cities and

urban centers worldwide, the problem of unlawful drugs and substances affects this area

significantly (Caetano et al., 2019). For instance, heroin and much more remain illegal in this

jurisdiction. However, possession and consumption of the same remain high in different urban

centers and towns, such as San Juan, and much more. The economic crisis prevailing in this area is

4

the primary motivating factor to its unprecedented high alcoholism rate. Upon consumption of the

same, especially excessively, overall social and economic prosperity plummets drastically.

Additionally, being strategically located in the geographic map of the globe, drug

traffickers usually target Puerto Rico to distribute illegal drugs and substances effectively to

different world destinations. In other words, this region acts as an effective drug conduit for

effective distribution and sale of the same to consumers in different world regions (Abadie et al.,

2021). Consequently, drug and substance availability is not a problem for consumers in this region.

Once the drug is available, increased consumption ensues following reduced socio-economic

growth and development in the neighborhood. Indeed, Puerto Rico’s position as a significant US

territory makes it an attractive drug conduit in the vicinity.

In addition to the above is overcrowding as a significant social problem worth highlighting,

which substantially affects Puerto Rico and its neighborhood. Being a small Caribbean island,

accomodating over three million inhabitants signifies that the issue of overcrowding is real. Indeed,

a small area occupied by such a vast population indicates that the challenge of population

explosion and inadequate social amenities is the routine (Issacharoff et al., 2019). The dense

population witnessed increased urbanization and globalization following improved technology,

diversity, and inclusivity. In other words, the social challenge of overcrowding in the Puerto Rican

towns, especially in San Juan, originates from human movement from different regions because of

multiple reasons.

How Geography and Globalization Relate to the Mentioned Social Problems

Several factors usually motivate the onset and eventual spread of multiple social and

economic issues in the community. Remarkably, the geographical location and globalization

aspects typically play substantial roles towards the emergence and eventual spread of different

5

social and economic problems. Notably, the social and economic issues of overcrowding,

alcoholism, drugs, and drug trafficking find an adequate explanation in the geographical situation

and globalization. Indeed, globalization, alongside technological advancements, enables people to

move safely and quickly from place to place because of different reasons (Caetano et al., 2019).

Eventually, people settle and undertake various social and economic activities in preferred

destinations such as San Juan. Upon settling and overcrowding in an area, competition for scarce

social amenities alongside other resources eventually ensue. Ultimately, this may trigger the onset

of different social and economic ills, such as prostitution and much more.

Therefore, the strategic position of Puerto Rico geographically enables it to act as an

excellent drug trafficking conduit, such as heroin and much more to different world regions, such

as the US, among others. Moreover, globalization following enhanced modern technology that

guarantees the safer and quicker movement of people and goods may trigger multiple social and

economic challenges in a region. Indeed, this enabled people descending from different races,

cultures, and ethnicities to converge in Puerto Rico to form a diverse and inclusive society (Abadie

et al., 2021). Continued migration of people from different areas and settling in an area such as San

Juan eventually causes overcrowding, prostitution, and violence, which ultimately overstretches

the scarce social amenities and resources.

In summation, the worldwide community typically Cities, towns, and urban centers

experience various interrelated social and economic issues, which require synergistic efforts of all

primary stakeholders to address effectively. Indeed, the island of Puerto Rico and San Juan city, in

particular, is no exception to the multiple social and economic challenges associated with

urbanization and globalization, which considerably affect human relationships and wellbeing.

6

Notably, overcrowding, drug trafficking, alcohol, and psychoactive substances form significant

social and economic problems bedeviling San Juan, Puerto Rico, as explained above.

7

References

Abadie, R., McLean, K., Habecker, P., & Dombrowski, K. (2021). Treatment trajectories and

barriers in opioid agonist therapy for people who inject drugs in rural Puerto Rico. Journal

of Substance Abuse Treatment, 127, 108347.

Caetano, R., Vaeth, P. A., & Canino, G. (2019). Comorbidity of lifetime alcohol use disorder and

major depressive disorder in san Juan, Puerto Rico. Journal of studies on alcohol and

drugs, 80(5), 546-551.

Issacharoff, S., Bursak, A., Rennie, R., & Webley, A. (2019). What is Puerto Rico. Ind. LJ, 94, 1.