Involvement In Drug Trafficking Research Articles

Persistence of Drug Trafficking Behaviors and Intentions among Urban African American Early Adolescents

Longitudinal data obtained 6 months apart from 132 urban African American adolescents, 9 through 15 years of age, were analyzed to assess the stability and predictability of behaviors, intentions, and perceptions regarding drug trafficking. Drug trafficking behaviors, intentions, and perceptions were relatively stable over time. Although rates of drug trafficking were low (7%o), about two-thirds of the youth involved at baseline were still involved 6 months later Males were more likely to be involved than females. Previous involvement was the best predictor for subsequent behavior and intention. Baseline intention was not predictive of subsequent behavior but was predictive of subsequent intention. Perceptions, particularly those regarding extrinsic rewards and response costs of drug trafficking, were predictive of subsequent behavior and intention. The youth appeared to differentiate between drug selling and drug delivering. These results represent the first longitudinal description of the natural history of involvement in drug trafficking from a community-based cohort.

Recent and Intended Drug Trafficking Among Male and Female Urban African-American Early Adolescents

To investigate associations between recent and intended involvement in drug trafficking and perceptions of the social environment among high-risk urban African-American youths. A multicomponent risk assessment survey was conducted among a convenience sample of 351 African-American youths 9 through 15 years of age residing in low-income communities. Both univariate analysis and logistic regression were performed to examine the association of youths' perceived social environment with recent and intended involvement in drug trafficking. Drug selling or delivering in the previous 6 months was reported by 6% of the youths; 12% expected to engage in these activities in the next 6 months. There was a strong association between drug trafficking and other high-risk behaviors, including drug use. Among both genders, perceptions that neighbors, friends, or family members were involved in drug trafficking were correlated with recent or intended drug trafficking. For boys, personal economic needs had a strong association with drug trafficking. For girls, personal feelings were more important correlates of intended involvement. Efforts aimed at both drug-trafficking prevention and intervention need to be community-based and multifaceted. Programs should address the youths' perceived social environments and consider gender differences regarding correlates of drug-trafficking involvement.

Using Mass Media to Reduce Adolescent Involvement in Drug Trafficking

Drug trafficking among adolescents is a newly recognized high-risk behavior that seems to be involving large numbers of youths. Strategies to prevent and/or alter this behavior must be developed and evaluated. In view of the high exposure of adolescents to the mass media, interventionists seeking to reduce adolescent risk behavior have increasingly employed the media in their efforts to reduce adolescent risk behaviors in general. However, not all risk behaviors may be amendable to change as a result of this approach. Therefore, before utilizing this approach to address adolescent drug trafficking, it is important to investigate previous efforts targeting related risk behaviors. Mass media campaigns against the use of drugs have been common in the US and seem to have played a role in reducing consumption of both legal and illegal drugs. The most effective messages seem to focus on the risks of drug use and the social disapproval that attends use. The mass media may increase the influence of these antidrug messages by changing the social climate surrounding drug use. The mass media may be a particularly effective way to reach adolescents and their parents in communities in which adolescent drug trafficking is prevalent and to unite the institutions that could influence adolescents against involvement in the drug trade. However, intervention efforts must also contend with the economic incentives of the drug trade in poor, central-city communities.

Perceptions of Drug Selling and Drug Use among Urban Youths

An exploratory study examining the meaning of drug use and drug trafficking among 64 urban youths and parents attending a community health center was conducted using qualitative and quantitative data-gathering techniques. Many youths had experimented with alcohol or tobacco but not illicit drugs. Drug use and drug trafficking ("running," selling, and dealing) were pervasive in the community, but youths viewed them as two separate activities. Whereas the youths believed that drugs were dangerous and considered themselves invulnerable to using drugs, many were conflicted about involvement in drug trafficking. Parents, however, perceived a close relationship between drug dealing and drug use and strongly feared the negative consequences of both activities. Due to the economic and social attractions of the drug trade, drug running and selling may be activities that serve as precursors to drug use. Attention should be directed toward prevention of drug trafficking as well as drug use, both serious risk behaviors.

Sendero Luminoso: Case Study in Insurgency

Abstract : The September 1992 capture of Abimael Guzman (Comrade Gonzalo), the terrorist leader of Peru's mysterious Sendero Luminoso, has received a lot of attention. Yet despite Guzman's capture, Sendero Luminoso, Spanish for Shining Path, remains Peru's largest and most serious security problem. Sendero has grown from a few hundred cadre in 1980 to at least 15,000 active supporters and is now considered the most ruthless terrorist insurgency in Latin America. The insurgents have been responsible for approximately 24,000 deaths and $22 billion in damages to Peru's infrastructure. This article examines the history of Sendero Luminoso, its strategy and tactics, its weaknesses, its involvement in drug trafficking, human rights issues, and the Peruvian Armed Forces' fight against the organization.

PATTERNS OF DRUG USE, DRUG TRAFFICKING, AND OTHER DELINQUENCY AMONG INNER‐CITY ADOLESCENT MALES IN WASHINGTON, D.C.*

This paper examines (1) the relationship between drug involvement among inner‐city youths and the commission of other kinds of crime, (2) the role of drug use in crime commission, (3) the connection between crime and drug procurement, and (4) the factors that distinguish between individuals as a function of (a) levels of involvement in drug trafficking and (b) drug usage and criminal activity.Drug use and trafficking were both related to other criminal activities; the type of drug involvement was related to the type of crimes reported. The heaviest users were significantly more likely than nonusers to commit property crimes and drug traffickers were significantly more likely to commit crimes against persons than were respondents who did not sell drugs. Adolescents who used and sold drugs were the most likely to commit crimes against persons and property, and at the greatest rate. Still, for every type of crime reported in the past year, only a minority of offenders reported ever using drugs while committing the crime or said that they committed any type of crime in order to obtain drugs or money to obtain drugs. Most youths appear to commit crime for reasons completely independent of drugs.