The Problems of Alabama on Illegal Drugs

Alabama is the 30th largest state of the United States with a land area of 52,419 square miles. As of 2006, it has a population of nearly 4.6 million, ranking 23rd on the list of the most populous states in the country.

History would reveal how the state of Alabama has thrived and survived the economic hardships it encountered from the time of the Civil War up to the Second World War. Nevertheless, the state has gained its badly needed recovery through a transition from agriculture to various interests in high technology. But despite the successful struggle, Alabama is facing more than just economic problems. It now faces the threat of illegal drug trafficking and substance addiction, especially among the young residents of the region.

Among the narcotics sold in the state, cocaine, marijuana, and meth are the ones that are widely available in the underground market. They are either transported by drug trafficking organizations from outside the country like Mexico and Columbia or are locally produced and manufactured in the state.

Reports from government agencies and treatment centers would show that there is still a significant figure of juvenile substance arrest in Alabama from 2003 to 2004. There was also an increase in adult drug arrests from 13,819 in 2003 to 15,534 in 2004. These figures are likewise found to be strongly related to the state's high violent crime rate.

In response to these drug problems, the government has already placed Alabama under the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA). This program aims to solve drug trafficking and other substance related issues in the state. Hopefully, this initiative will not only lessen the number of admission in drug rehabilitation but will also put in jail all the drug trafficking groups operating in the state. This is one good way to finally solve the cases of illegal drugs.