National Drug Threat Assessment & International Drug Control

The global illegal drug trade represents a multi-dimensional challenge that has implications for U.S. national interests as well as the international community. According to the U.S. intelligence community, international drug trafficking can undermine political and regional stability and bolster the role and capabilities of organised crime in the drug trade. Key regions of concern include Latin American and Afghanistan, which are focal points in U.S. efforts to combat the production and transit of cocaine and heroin, respectively. Drug use and addiction have the potential to negatively affect the social fabric of communities, hinder economic development, and place an additional burden on national public health infrastructures. This book examines U.S. international drug control policy with a focus on the impact of drugs on society, drug trafficking organisations, and the global scope of the problem.