. “The illegal drug market in the United States is one of the most profitable in the world. As such, it attracts the most ruthless, sophisticated and aggressive drug traffickers. Over the years, drug trafficking has become a major problem in the United States. These issues have impacted our economy and security, spurring new laws and policies across the United States and among our borders. Drug trafficking has created conflicts with other countries such as Mexico. “…criminal groups operating from neighboring Mexico are smuggling cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, amphetamine and marijuana into the United States. These criminal groups have been smuggling heroin and marijuana across the southwest border and distributing them throughout the United States since the 1970s” (Political Almanac). Drug trafficking has contributed to a negative cause for the United States economy, introducing crimes that are a factor in many deaths and illnesses. The economic cost alone is estimated to be $215 billion annually which contributes to drug trafficking. in the United States. According to the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, nearly $61 billion would be spent on criminal justice, including criminal investigations, prosecutions and incarceration, and $11 billion would be spent on health care costs, including treatment of addiction and drug-related problems. medical consequences, $120 billion is lost in productivity, due to the costs of participating in drug treatment, incarceration and premature death. As reported in the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, it is estimated that full-time workers who were currently using drugs were more likely to miss their work day due to illness or injuries. As mentioned in the middle of the article......is-affecting-business-and-the-economy Cratty, C. (March 28, 2013). Mexican drug cartels expand their reach into the United States - CNN.com. Accessed November 25, 2013, from http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/03/26/drug.trends/Lewis, B. (nd). Retrieved from http://www.policyalmanac.org/crime/archive/drug_trafficking.shtml Moisse, K. . Retrieved from http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Drugs/drug-deaths-exceed-traffic-deaths/story?id=14554903 MyHealthNewsDaily Staff (January 5, 2012). Illegal drugs cause 250,000 deaths a year worldwide | Science Live. Retrieved from http://www.livescience.com/36068-worldwide-illegal-drug-deaths.htmlVoorhees, J. (November 21, 2013). North Korea Meth Bust: US Arrests Five in Drug Smuggling Operation Led by JosephHunter. Retrieved from http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2013/11/21/north_korean_meth_bust_u_s_arrests_five_in_joseph_hunter_led_drug_smuggling.html