A sliver of a silver lining

Tighter homefront security and the bombing in Afghanistan should mean less heroin on the streets of Youngstown -- and any place else where the corrupting influence of drugs has debilitated society. Under the Taliban in Afghanistan, that nation's opium output has jumped to account for 75 percent of the world's total production. Some 235 metric tons of heroin are shipped to the United States each year-- and about the same amount to Europe -- more evidence of the contempt that these criminals disguised-as-leaders have for the west.
Drug trade: At least in Colombia and Mexico, which are also centers of the international drug trade, the political leadership is trying to abolish the trafficking in drugs. While their efforts are not always successful -- the drug cartels buy whatever officials they can and kill off those prosecutors or judges who stand in their way -- the Taliban makes no secret of encouraging their sole cash crop -- the only agricultural commodity Afghans are encouraged to produce.
The Taliban gives farmers money to grow the opium poppies and then taxes the farmers $10 million a year. The government then buys the opium, processes it into heroin which is then exported. Afghans are forbidden to use drugs.
If the supply lines in Afghanistan are disrupted, and if drugs have less likelihood of getting into the United States because of tighter border security and more extensive customs and Coast Guard interdiction, the end result has to be less heroin on the market.
Not good news for addicts, but very good news for the Mahoning Valley Drug Task Force. While David Allen, commander of the task force, is concerned that addicts unable to buy drugs will turn to robbing pharmacies for prescription pain killers, others may enter treatment facilities instead.
We can't imagine drug abusers choosing to seek treatment for their habit because it's the patriotic thing to do. However, spending money on drugs is essentially putting money into the pockets of the Taliban, thus strengthening their regime as any drug use weakens our society.