Drug Cartels

A Drug Cartel is a criminal organization developed to promote drug trafficking. 
Drug Cartel Positions:

• Falcons (Halcones): The "eyes and ears" of the streets, the 'falcons' are the lowest rank position in the drug cartel. They are responsible for supervising and reporting on the activities of the military and of their rival groups. They are like spies.

• Hitmen (Sicarios): They are the armed group within the drug cartel; they are responsible for carrying out assassinations, kidnappings and thefts.

• Lieutenants (Lugartenientes): The second highest position in the drug cartel organization; they are responsible for supervising the sicarios and halcones within their own territory. They are allowed to carry out low-profile executions without permission from their bosses.

• Drug Lords (Capos): This is the highest position in any drug cartel. They are responsible for supervising their entire drug industry.

(guns belonging to drug cartels confiscated by officials)

This is our video part of our Science PSA.

What Is Mexico Doing To Stop This?

There is a program called “Yo Quiero, Yo Puedo” which means “I Want To, I Can”. It is designed in Mexico with the support of the Mentor Foundation. It gives schools, teachers, parents and kids self-knowledge, communication, negotiation and problem solving skills to help reject drug use. It helps kids make better decisions about drugs, with the assistance of their schools, parent and teachers. The Mentor Foundation (www.mentorfoundation.org) is the biggest international (excluding government) organization working to prevent substance (and drug) abuse.
There are many drug rehab programs, in very many places. There are prison-camp ones, usually for teens, and luxurious facilities. The programs help people quit drugs, and never go back to them.
There is a lot of success from these drug rehab facilities. There are many amazing stories online about people whose lives were completely ruined, and somehow, with the help of a drug rehab facility, they managed to get their lives back on track.
Some amazing success stories (not from Mexico) can be found online.
Mexico could try to outlaw drugs period, and increase security to confiscate all drugs. Even though this will be very, very hard, in a few decades, there will be no more drugs. While selling drugs can provide a huge source of income to drug dealers, other jobs could be beneficial. Working in a drug rehab facility (after becoming sober) could provide encouragement to drug addicts. They could also work in construction, bringing out a “work-hard” type.

Extra Credit: Cure for Drug Abuse

New Drug Law:
Drugs are now outlawed for children ages 5 and under. We hope that those children will have never had drugs. The security will be increased and very strict. Every year, the minimum age will go up by one year. That way, in 100 years, those people will have never had drugs. Obviously drugs are illegal now, but if we totally get rid of them, maybe, just maybe, they will never come back. 


More information coming soon!

New Drug Laws

On August 20, 2009, the Mexican government made new laws regarding drugs. If you had a small "persona use" amount of drugs (marijuana, heroin, cocaine, LSD or methamphetamine), it would NOT be a criminal offense. You would be encouraged to go to treatment, and on the third offense you would be REQUIRED to enter treatment.


More info coming soon!

Why did drug abuse increase over the past 10 years?

After  9/11/01, border security increased. It was harder to smuggle drugs into the USA and therefore drug dealers were forced to sell their drugs to people in their own country. Addiction in Mexico rose.

More info coming soon!!

Astonishing Facts

In the border state of Sonora, in Mexico, crystal methamphetamine use QUADRUPLED between 2002 and 2008.
To make a proportion reality, if there are 25 people in your class, 1 of them uses marijuana.
Ever since the Drug War started in 2006, a total estimate of deaths is 54,927. In just one year (2011), over 16 thousand people were killed.


More Coming Soon!