Where Do Mind-Altering Substances Originate
Often, most posts talk about substance abuse, the person who has an addiction to drugs or alcohol. Though this is the correct area of concern, there is very little that is said about the dealer or trafficker of these substances.
There is some dismissal and or disregard, to a certain point, for those causing such chaos to society. It is a legal and criminal matter, and we often leave it to the authorities.
But truth be told, there are different degrees or levels in the trafficking of mind-altering substances.
Here are common sources of drugs, alcohol, and medications:
- International drug trafficking networks
- Local street-level dealers
- Medical professionals who overprescribe opioid medications
- Illicit laboratories manufacturing street drugs
- Global pharmaceutical manufacturers
- Provincial liquor control boards and retailers
Hidden Influence Behind a Drugged Society
Much can be said about each sector above. Suffice it to say that the problem of substance abuse is connected to one or more of the above sources. For example, the international trafficker is interested only in the economics, the sales and profits of moving large amounts of illicit drugs from country to country. In 2023, the CBSA seized 63kg of Cocaine at the Emerson port of entry in southern Manitoba*, with a street value of $6,000,000.
When large amounts find their way into a country, they get broken down into smaller amounts for cities, towns, and any other place possible. Here is where the dealer enters the scene. You will find them distributing to other dealers who sell in clubs, schools, streets, etc., all for a profit. It all rolls back up the line to the big trafficker.
The other source is medical professionals who overprescribe pain medication. This was part of the overall opiate crisis that began in the 1990s. For many Canadians, this crisis stems from widespread addiction to legal opioids. Often fueled by inappropriate prescribing practices after the aggressive and deceptive marketing of opioids (oxycodone) from big pharma*.
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Additional Hidden Influences
Clandestin Labs
There are those individuals who attempt to cut into the profits by producing the products to sell on their own. Creating clandestine chemical laboratories to produce drugs. These are often cut or mixed with other chemicals that can have serious side effects on anyone. Often, the person has a degree in chemistry and can purchase chemicals. By combining and mixing, they turn out hundreds of thousands of pills to sell on the black market, and some can be very dangerous.
The Global Pharmaceutical Industry
Next is the global pharmaceutical industry, where major corporations conduct large-scale testing, manufacturing, and marketing of medications. These companies submit trial drugs for approval to regulatory bodies like the FDA, Health Canada, and their international counterparts. When the volume of proposed medications is high and lobbying efforts are intense, the approval process is often accelerated.
According to a report by the CCHR*, society is now being “prescribed medications for nearly everything—from learning and behavioural issues to bedwetting, aggression, juvenile delinquency, criminal behaviour, drug addiction, and smoking. Even the fears and challenges faced by the elderly are treated this way. From cradle to grave, we are inundated with messages promoting chemical solutions as the answer to life’s problems.”
Sales and Distribution of Alcohol
Next is alcohol. Each Canadian province has its own laws governing the sale and distribution of this substance. Although alcohol has been around since ancient times—long before the Pharaohs—it continues to be a major source of harm and suffering. In this case, the “dealers” include liquor boards, grocery stores, bartenders, and more. Its promotion comes in the form of widespread advertising that encourages consumption. While organizations like MADD and others have made significant efforts to curb alcohol-related harm, it remains the most widely abused substance globally.
Why do People Continue to Harm Themselves?
One of the key underlying reasons that people use these substances is relief. All substances tend to numb the person’s perceptions and feelings. No matter the substance used and the amount, the resulting numbing occurs. Dealers know this, and connect to people with personal issues or problems, discomforts, including pains.
It works out for emotional pains and discomforts as well. You can see when a person loses a close relative or friend. In most funerals, the host tends to pass out drinks, and it numbs the pain of loss. This works with any substance; cocaine, marijuana, alcohol, and even medication will do this. The real underlying untold truth is that when the drug or alcohol wears off, the discomfort and pain return. Often a bit stronger than before. The solution is to use again, and again, and a bit more next time. Giving the dealer a returning customer.
Breaking the Vicious Cycle
As with any complex problem, it requires a simple approach. The RCMP, drug task forces, policy makers, etc., all attempt to counter the drug trade. And the drug trade continues. Here’s a simple approach taken from commerce. In fact, looking at drug trafficking, one can see it is a global multi-billion-dollar business. It follows the same laws as with any other business. The basic business law at work here is supply and demand.
In the illicit drug trade, the economic principle of supply and demand works similarly to how it functions in any other market, but with some important differences due to the illegal nature of the goods. (Read more on Supply & Demand)
To break the cycle and market – Kill the demand. This is best done by educating people about the truth about drugs.
*Source:
https://www.canada.ca/
https://www.ourcommons.ca/
https://www.cchr.org/
https://www.washington.edu/
Marc J. Bernard
Author,
Substance Use Disorder & Recovery Professional,
Referral & Consultation Counsellor
