Pope Francis has received a great deal of media attention recently due to his historic visit to the United States. The Pontiff has ushered in a new era of moderate church leadership, taking unprecedented, progressive stands on issues like climate change, same-sex marriage and state capitalism.
This month, the Argentine pope travelled for the first time to America, where he was outspoken on issues like poverty, austerity measures and the war on drugs. From Central America to Los Angeles, the international drug trade is a serious problem. Law enforcement agencies and drug rehab centers find new ways to make a difference, but the Pope made it clear that the work is nowhere near finished.
Francis addressed the United Nations as part of its 70-year anniversary summit. Speaking of the dangers facing the modern world, the Pope decried “systematic violence” in Africa and the Middle East. In the same vein, he condemned the drug trade and the violence inherent to it.
“Drug trafficking is by its very nature accompanied by trafficking in persons, money laundering, the arms trade, child exploitation and other forms of corruption,” he said. In places like Los Angeles, Drug rehab centers have fought against narcotic abuse for decades, but Francis indicated that responsibility also lies with national governments.
“[Drug corruption] has penetrated to different levels of social, political, military, artistic and religious life, and, in many cases, has given rise to a parallel structure which threatens the credibility of our institutions.”
Francis may have been addressing the problem of corruption in Central America, where police and drug lords work together and thousands are killed every year. However, the problem extends to the United States. Cocaine and heroin devastated Los Angeles for several decades before drug rehab centers and local communities joined together to improve the situation.
Although Francis didn’t explicitly suggest any solutions to the problem, community-centered initiatives have brought success in places like Los Angeles. In the past, Francis has given advice directed more towards governments. Some states have legalized drugs like marijuana, speculating that legitimate supply channels might deal a blow to the illegal drug trade and open up space in rehab centers.
In 2014, Francis spoke out against legalizing drugs. At the International Drug Enforcement Conference, he said, “Drug addiction is an evil, and with evil there can be no yielding or compromise." He has held strong to this position, despite increasing opposition from politicians and media leaders.
Tanner Wadsworth is a health writer reporter for Fusion 360, an SEO and content marketing agency. Information provided by Miramar Recovery Center. Follow on Twitter
This month, the Argentine pope travelled for the first time to America, where he was outspoken on issues like poverty, austerity measures and the war on drugs. From Central America to Los Angeles, the international drug trade is a serious problem. Law enforcement agencies and drug rehab centers find new ways to make a difference, but the Pope made it clear that the work is nowhere near finished.
Francis addressed the United Nations as part of its 70-year anniversary summit. Speaking of the dangers facing the modern world, the Pope decried “systematic violence” in Africa and the Middle East. In the same vein, he condemned the drug trade and the violence inherent to it.
“Drug trafficking is by its very nature accompanied by trafficking in persons, money laundering, the arms trade, child exploitation and other forms of corruption,” he said. In places like Los Angeles, Drug rehab centers have fought against narcotic abuse for decades, but Francis indicated that responsibility also lies with national governments.
“[Drug corruption] has penetrated to different levels of social, political, military, artistic and religious life, and, in many cases, has given rise to a parallel structure which threatens the credibility of our institutions.”
Francis may have been addressing the problem of corruption in Central America, where police and drug lords work together and thousands are killed every year. However, the problem extends to the United States. Cocaine and heroin devastated Los Angeles for several decades before drug rehab centers and local communities joined together to improve the situation.
Although Francis didn’t explicitly suggest any solutions to the problem, community-centered initiatives have brought success in places like Los Angeles. In the past, Francis has given advice directed more towards governments. Some states have legalized drugs like marijuana, speculating that legitimate supply channels might deal a blow to the illegal drug trade and open up space in rehab centers.
In 2014, Francis spoke out against legalizing drugs. At the International Drug Enforcement Conference, he said, “Drug addiction is an evil, and with evil there can be no yielding or compromise." He has held strong to this position, despite increasing opposition from politicians and media leaders.
Tanner Wadsworth is a health writer reporter for Fusion 360, an SEO and content marketing agency. Information provided by Miramar Recovery Center. Follow on Twitter