The paste that is made is then shipped to Columbia where it is made into a "powdered substance". After the cocaine is made into powder it is shipped to the United States and other parts world (McFarland 32). "Drug families" in Columbia control most of the cocaine trafficking. They use special planes and boats to carry cocaine from Columbia to Caribbean Islands and southern Florida. They send some on land, by truck through Mexico into the United States (McFarland 32).Most of the cocaine brought into the U.S. goes through Los Angelas, Houston, New York, and Miami ("Cocaine Use" 3). From these locations "trafficking gangs" connect with "street gangs" to distribute most of the cocaine. "Gangs including the Crips, Bloods, and Dominican, Cuban, Haitian, Mexican, and Puerto Rican groups control most of the sales." Cocaine is only about percent 80 pure when it reaches the gangs, and only 60 percent pure when it hits the street. This is because gangs "cut' it with other substances such as sugar, PCP, speed, corn starch, and talcum powder to save money ("Cocaine Use" 3).Between 1981 and 1996 the U.S. Government has spent more than $80 billion fighting the "drug war". Government agents continuously patrol our southern border, from Florida to California, in an effort to ward off large scale drug smuggling. Thus far, their efforts appear futile (Bayer 33).Cocaine is a strong central nervous stimulant. It speeds up the body's work, and affects the part of the brain that produces strong feelings of pleasure. It makes the user feel powerful and full of energy, and they no longer feel tired. "In experiments, monkeys that were allowed to have all the cocaine they wanted, took it until they died." Cocaine has stronger physical affects on the body and brain than almost any other drug. After cocaine is taken, the heart beats 30 to 50 percent faster and the body temperature rises. The strongest physical affects cocaine has, though, are on the ...
