Drug Trafficking in Cambodia and China

Drug trafficking of ecstasy and meth in Cambodia and opium in China both caused different but severe problems in the countries. In China, the illegal opium trade mostly caused the economic problems and governmental corruption. Because opium was produced outside of China and sold to China for large amounts of money, China's economy suffered greatly. So many of its population was addicted to opium that it was in high demand and was extremely expensive, and it became a steady trade for Britain. Not only this, but since most government officials were addicted to opium themselves, the government became corrupt. Soon the whole country, including most officials, would do anything to get their hands on the opium.

In Cambodia, the problems caused by drug trafficking are different but no less severe. The main problem in Cambodia is environmental destruction, and growing number of youth who are addicted to the ecstasy and meth. Because the manufacturing of the drugs takes place in the forests of Cambodia, there is not expensive trade that hurts the economy, rather there is extensive harm to the forests. Safrole oil is a key ingredient of ecstasy, and is prominent in the trees of the forest. To extract the oil, trees are cut down, streams are polluted, animals are harmed, and large amount of carbon dioxide from burning fires pollutes the air. Along with the environmental destruction, the large youth population on the drugs is jeopardizing the country's future. Unlike China, the current government is not corrupt, but Cambodia is well on its way to corrupt and unhealthy authorities if the youth continues to abuse these drugs.

What both these countries lack is enough rehab centers that are easily accessible for people to get help with their addiction. China's time for this has passed, but hopefully the authorities in Cambodia will see a steadily growing need for these rehab centers and will do something about the problem as quickly as they can.