Germany's response to illicit drugs and terrorism threats

Germany Illicit Drugs and Terrorism Issues

Germany's illicit drugs range from use of ecstasy, cannabis, cocaine, and heroin. Germany has made recent efforts as of February, 15th 2012 with the adoption of a National Strategy on Drug and Addiction Policy through the Federal cabinet that has the main aim of aiding individuals in reducing and avoiding their overall consumption of illicit and licit substances and associated addictive behaviors. Through prevention, addiction help, counseling/treatment, harm minimization efforts, and repression Germany hopes to provide the necessary changes to reduce drug usage. Germany is also making efforts towards battling terrorism through the creation of the BFE. The anti-terrorist unit aims to react quickly to potential or actual terrorist attacks through five locations and 250 security operatives.

Disputes

Drug Possession and injection does not make up most drug disputes within Germany. Drug dealing, purchasing drugs online has become a big problem and that is due to use of cryptocurrencies for payment and anonymizing software (Tzanetakis, Kamphausen, Werse, & von Laufenberg, 2016, p. 58).

A. Illicit Drugs

The kinds of illicit drugs most used in Germany are cocaine, heroin, cannabis, and ecstasy.

1. Information on Five categories of Illicit Drugs

The Five Illicit Drug Categories are: Narcotics, Stimulants, and Depressants (Sedatives),

Hallucinogens, and Cannabis.

B. Why is it a problem?

Illicit drugs increase risk for addiction and dependency along with addictive behaviors, higher prevalence of violent and nonviolent crimes, and potential funding of terrorist activities.

1. Suggestion to improve the problem

Germany has already attempted since 2010 and 2012, efforts in rehabilitating addicts, reducing punishment for addicts, and creating employment and learning opportunities for addicts.

2. What is causing the problem?

Lack of policies towards online drug purchasing and continual criminalization of cannabis and ecstasy may add to the continued and increase prevalence of online illegal drug markets that contribute to the addiction problems facing Germans.

3. When is the problem projected to be resolved?

Within ten years reduction in punishment measures and attempts at reintegration will allow for a decrease in drug usage.

III. Terrorism

A. Germany's past terror attacks and plots

B. Germany faces a high threat from terrorism

IV. Germany new creation elite police unit, known as BFE

3. Diplomatic support from other countries

Countries from Western Europe and the Americas have attempted to support the anti-terrorism efforts. The United States has devoted troops, and other armed forces to help provide military support to countries affected by terrorism in Europe like France and Germany.

B. Drugs

1. Growing production, distribution and transit of drugs

Cannabis is a major contributor to distribution and transit of illicit drugs. Criminals have increasingly grown cannabis to get past stricter border controls in Germany. Illegal greenhouses have grown in the last decade due to lack of imported cannabis from other regions like the Caribbean.

2. Defense against drug trading across borders

To defend against drug trading internationally, decriminalization may reduce need for imported drugs and may allow those already growing cannabis, a means to create legal businesses as seen in California in the United States.

3. Depletion of drug stock

Drugs that have depleted are cocaine and cannabis. This has led to local cultivation in Germany of cannabis through greenhouse construction.