U.S. Mexican Relations: A Comprehensive Review on Heroin Supply and Demand

As an ever-increasing heroin epidemic pervades the cities and suburbs of America, attempts to tackle the issue have taken prominence in the White House. To fight the ‘war on drugs’ an in depth understanding of the process of production, heroin trafficking routes and previous political policy failures is required. This review focuses on how the production of Mexican heroin dominates the U.S. illicit drug market. A comprehensive analysis of current and previous legislation on drug laws and security regulations at the U.S Mexican border provides suggestions for future policies aimed at tackling the heroin problem in the U.S. Issues explored in this review are; the increased Mexican opium production stemming from the legalisation of marijuana, which shifted Mexican farmers to opium cultivation, the underlying parameters of poverty in Mexico and cartel influenced corruption of government within Mexico. This review suggests that Mexico alone cannot be blamed for the U.S. heroin problem, although it is sole supplier, there must be a demand for the supply within U.S. society. The main reason for the expansion of the heroin epidemic sweeping the streets of the U.S. is the increase in painkiller addition within U.S. society. This coupled with lower cost of heroin on the illicit market may lead many users to replace pain killer cravings with heroin. This poses the question ‘is it realistic to completely remove the heroin problem from the U.S. through the elimination of trafficking routes and by reforming previous failed policies or would drug trafficking organisations alter the structure of their businesses and routes to adapt to any change in policy?.