Citation

Puyana JC, Puyana JC, Rubiano AM, Montenegro JH, Estebanez GO, Sanchez AI, Vega-Rivera F. Med. Princ. Pract. 2017; 26(4): 309-315.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Karger Publishers)

DOI

10.1159/000471853

PMID

28329741

Abstract

The impact of illicit drug markets on the occurrence of violence varies tremendously depending on many factors. Over the last years, Mexico and United States (US) has increased security border issues that included many aspects of drug-related trade and criminal activities. Mexico experienced only a small reduction of trauma deaths after severe crime reinforcement policies. This strategy in the war on drugs is shifting the drug market to other Central American countries. This phenomenon is called the ballooning effect where by pressure to control illicit drug related activities in one particular area forces a shift to other more vulnerable areas that lead to increase crime and violence. A human right crisis characterized by suffering, injury and death related to drug traffic continues to expand resulting in exorbitant loss of lives and cost in productivity across the continent. The current climate of social violence in Central America and the illegal immigration to USA may be partially related to this phenomenon of drug trafficking, gang violence and crime. A health care initiative as an alternative to the actual war approach may be one of the interventions needed to reduce this crisis.

Language: en