Impact of Drug Eradication Methods on Latin American People

Negative Effects of Crop Fumigation Programs

Colombians have used crop fumigation as a drug-eradication method since the 1970's.

In 1994, an intense spraying campaign eradicated between 1/3 to 1/2 of Colombia's coca crop for the following five years.

"Notwithstanding the campaign's apparent success, the total area under coca cultivation and the amount of this area that escaped eradication have actually increased during the past decade" (Peterson)

Destroys Legitimate Agricultural Crops

Despite the vast majority of illegal cocaine production, some coca is grown as a legitimate and legal business.
- - “Some is marketed and used legally for medical and cultural purposes. Legal consumption occurs primarily at the level of household use, as tea or various medical remedies."(Peterson)
  - A far smaller amount goes to overseas pharmaceutical or other commercial interests, such as Coca-Cola, which derives some of its beverages' “natural flavors” from coca leaves that have been stripped of their psychotropic chemicals
  - Indiscriminate crop fumigation can destroy this source of income for some law-abiding citizens (Peterson)

Environmental Consequences

Spraying the crops with dangerous herbicides can be highly destructive to the diverse and fragile ecosystems in Latin America.
“Biological and chemical eradication programs threaten the region by degrading the environment, exposing people to toxic compounds, and involving local residents—whether active in the drug trade or not—in the war on drugs.” (Peterson)

Cultural Issues

For centuries, indigenous people have used coca for spiritual, nutritional and medical reasons
Contains vitamins and minerals and calcium and can be an important staple of many local diets which often lack these nutrients.

Legal Issues

Article 79 of the Colombian Constitution states that “all people have the right to enjoy a healthy environment.”
Crop fumigation can poison the environment, causing sickness and deaths, which violates this constitutional right.

Small Coca Farmer Video [1]