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The brutal mirror

What the psychedelic drug ayahuasca showed me about my life.

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When I finally puked on the fourth night, I felt an odd sense of pride.

Inside the loud, stuffy ceremony room, people were laughing, crying, chanting, gyrating, and, yes, vomiting, around me. When my time finally comes, I think: Just aim for the bucket and keep your ass above your head like the shaman told you.

I try to wipe my face but can’t grab the tissue paper because it melts every time I reach for it. Nearby, a man starts to scream. I can’t make out what he’s saying on account of the shaman singing beautiful Colombian songs in the other room.

I finish vomiting and start crying and laughing and smiling all at once. Something has been lifted in this “purge,” something dark and deep I was carrying around for years. Relief washes over me, and I slowly make my way back to my mattress on the floor.

For four consecutive nights, a group of 78 of us here at a retreat center in Costa Rica have been drinking a foul-tasting, molasses-like tea containing ayahuasca, a plant concoction that contains the natural hallucinogen known as DMT.

We’re part of a wave of Westerners seeking out ayahuasca as a tool for psychological healing, personal growth, or expanding consciousness.

I flew to Costa Rica hoping to explode my ego. And I was not prepared for what happened. Ayahuasca turned my life upside down, dissolving the wall between my self and the world. I also stared into what I can only describe as the world’s most honest mirror. It was a Clockwork Orange -like horror show, and it was impossible to look away. But I saw what I needed to see when I was ready to see it.

Ayahuasca exposes the gap between who you think you are and who you actually are. In my case, the gap was immense, and the pain of seeing it for the first time was practically unbearable.

An ayahuasca boom

Ayahuasca remains a fringe psychological medicine, but it’s slowly working its way into the mainstream. Until fairly recently, you had to travel to South America if you wanted to experiment with the plant, but now ayahuasca ceremonies are popping up in the United States and Europe.

Indigenous people in countries like Colombia and Peru have been brewing the concoction for thousands of years, mostly for religious or spiritual purposes. It’s considered a medicine, a way to heal internal wounds and reconnect with nature.

It wasn’t until 1908 that Western scientists acknowledged its existence; British botanist Richard Spruce was the first to study it and write about the “purging” it invokes. He was mainly interested in classifying the vines and leaves that made up the magic brew, and in understanding its role in Amazonian culture.

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Ayahuasca emerged again in the early 1960s with the counterculture movement. Beat writers like William Burroughs, Allen Ginsberg, and Jack Kerouac all described their experiences with ayahuasca, most famously in Burroughs’s book The Yag e Letters . Scientist-hippies like Terence McKenna and Timothy Leary then went to South America to research and experience the drug firsthand. All of this helped bring ayahuasca into Western culture, but it was never truly popularized.

Today, the tea is having a bit of a moment.

Celebrities like Lindsay Lohan , Sting , and Chelsea Handler have spoken about their experiences with it. “I had all these beautiful images of my childhood and me and my sister laughing on a kayak, and all these beautiful things with me and my sister,” Handler told the New York Post after her first ayahuasca trip. “It was very much about opening my mind to loving my sister, and not being so hard on her.”

Handler’s experience appears to be common. The scientific evidence on ayahuasca is limited, but it is known to activate repressed memories in ways that allow people to come to a new understanding of their past. In some cases, it helps people work through memories of traumatic events, which is why neuroscientists are beginning to study ayahuasca as a treatment for depression and PTSD. (There are physical and psychological risks to taking it as well — it can interfere with medication and exacerbate existing psychiatric conditions.)

What I was looking for

My interest in ayahuasca was specific: I wanted to cut through the illusion of selfhood. Psychedelics have a way of tearing down our emotional barriers. You feel plugged into something bigger than yourself, and — for a moment, at least — the sensation of separation melts away.

Buddhists, cognitive scientists, and philosophers have all made persuasive arguments that there is nothing like a “fixed self,” no thinker behind our thoughts, no doer behind our deeds. There is only consciousness and immediate experience; everything else is the result of the mind projecting into the past or the future.

But this is a difficult truth to grasp in everyday life. Because you’re conscious, because it’s like something to be you, it’s very easy to believe that a wall exists between your mind and the world. If you’re experiencing something, then there must be a “you” doing the experiencing. But the “you” in this case is just an abstraction; it’s in your mind, not out there in the world.

I spent about five years as a philosophy graduate student and another few as a teacher. I understood these arguments in intellectual terms but not in experiential terms. I’ve tried meditating, and I’m terrible at it. My mind is a parade of discordant thoughts, and as a result, I’m rarely present — in conversations, during meditation, in daily life.

One way to escape this trap, I hope, is to get the hell out of my head.

There are many ways to reach the truth of non-selfhood. Think of it as a mountain peak, with meditators and certain spiritual traditions ascending different sides. Psychedelic drugs offer a kind of shortcut; you get a glimpse of this higher truth without all those years of serious, disciplined practice.

That shortcut is what I was after.

Night 1: dread

The approach at this retreat center, called Rythmia, is all-encompassing. During the day they pamper you with all the luxuries of a wellness retreat — massages, volcanic mud baths, organic food, yoga classes, colonic cleanses. Then at night, you drink ayahuasca and put yourself through emotional and physical hell.

One of the first things I was told is that I had to enter the ayahuasca ceremony with a clear goal or question in mind: What do you want to learn about yourself?

The trained facilitators who led the ceremonies recommend that you begin with a simple request: Show me who I’ve become.

The question implies that at some point you lost yourself, that when you were a child, your soul was pure, open, uncorrupted by culture. As you enter society, you lose that childlike love for the world. You start to judge yourself by external standards. You compare yourself to friends, neighbors, and peers. You develop an ego, an identity, and your well-being becomes bound up with these constructs.

There’s nothing new about these ideas, but they strike me as true all the same. So I decide to focus on self-discovery.

It’s now 5:15 pm, and the first ceremony starts in 15 minutes. I’m terrified. “Do I really want to see what I’ve become?” I keep asking. I’m pretty sure I won’t like the answer — almost no one does, it seems.

The doors open, and all 78 of us here for this week-long session pour into the ceremony room, called the “flight deck.” The room is big, divided into three sections, and there are two bathrooms on each side. It’s dimly lit, and mattresses are lined up on the floor against the walls. The beds are only a few inches apart. At the foot of each mattress is a roll of toilet paper and a blue or red bucket.

I pounce on the first mattress I see; it’s near the door and just a few feet from the bathroom. I feel safe here. To my right is Chad, a photographer from Ontario who looks as nervous as I am but somehow seems more prepared for this. To my left is a giant window that opens to a view of the courtyard.

There’s a nervous collective energy. Almost everyone here is doing ayahuasca for the first time, and we’re all scared shitless. They announce the first call to drink, and I make my way to the front of the line. One by one, we take our cups, silently reflect on the intention for the evening, and then drink.

It’s my turn to drink. The stuff is nasty, like a cup of motor oil diluted with a splash of water. I throw it back like a shot of cheap bourbon.

We’re instructed to sit up and lean against the wall after the first cup. The tea takes at least 30 minutes to work its way through the body. I sit quietly for 45 minutes, maybe an hour, and then I lie down on my mattress and wait.

Nothing happens. I feel a little dizzy but nothing overwhelming. I go outside, walk around a bit, feel my feet in the grass. Then they announce a call for the second drink. I remember the mantra here: “Drink, don’t think.” If you can hear the call, if you can move your body, you drink. So I awkwardly drag myself out of bed and head to the front for a second cup.

About 30 minutes pass, and I start to feel ... strange. I can see colors, shapes, and shifting shadows on the wall. I’m nervous that something is about to happen, so I go outside and gather myself. I settle in one of the hammocks and stare at the stars.

Suddenly the stars start to spin in a clockwise direction. Then a little faster. Then, for reasons that escape me, I start yelling at the moon. So it goes, for what feels like an hour or two. I keep hurling those two questions at the heavens but get no answers, no insights, just silence and spinning.

I walk back inside and collapse in my bed. For the rest of the night, I see sporadic visions of geometric figures, a few flashes of light, but that’s about it. Then one of the assistants starts to ring a gentle bell.

It’s 2 am, and it’s time to close the ceremony.

Night 2: “Don’t fight the medicine”

The next day I realize why I had no great revelations on the first night. I couldn’t let go. I thought I was prepared for the trip, but anxiety got the better of me. As soon as I thought something — anything — was about to happen, I tried to think myself out of the experience.

Tonight will be different. I’m going to stay in the moment, stay with my breath, and see what happens.

The facilitator is Brad, a kind, aggressively tanned guy from Indianapolis who was trained in ayahuasca by a tribe in Peru. The facilitators play an important role each night, even though there isn’t much one-on-one interaction. They set the tone, guide the ceremony, explain where the medicine came from and how it works, and they assist the people who need it throughout the night.

Brad tells us to let go and give in. “Don’t fight the medicine,” he says. “Just listen.”

It’s cooler tonight, but there’s a warm breeze rolling through the room. Most of the people around me are scribbling last-minute notes in their journals; others are sitting stoically waiting for the first call.

I take my first drink around 7:30 pm, though I can’t know for sure because phones and electronics are shut down as soon as you enter the flight deck. My intention is the same as it was the first night: Show me who I’ve become.

I can tell quickly that this will be different. It’s 30 or 40 minutes after the first drink, and already my senses are overwhelmed. Every time I open my eyes, the space around me starts to fold, kind of like what Einstein describes in his theory of relativity. But it also looks like a tightly woven spider web, and when I move my hand it starts to bend.

Before I know it, they make the call for a second drink. “Don’t think, drink,” I keep telling myself. So I stumble to the front and drink another cup. Then things get weird.

I roll onto my right side and see Andrea, a woman from Toronto, struggling to vomit. Brad, the facilitator, had said the Peruvian and Columbian tribes that use ayahuasca see purging — vomiting, diarrhea, crying, laughing, and yawning — as a vital part of the healing the drug brings. When you purge, you’re expelling all the nastiness — the stress, the anxieties, the fears, the regrets, the hatred, the self-loathing.

All of a sudden, Andrea has 40 or 50 yellow snakes gushing out of her mouth and into mine. And then I’m immediately racked with the worst nausea I’ve ever experienced. First I curl up in the fetal position and then I spring onto all fours and try to puke. But I can’t get it out. I stay on my knees for another five or 10 minutes waiting for something to happen. Nothing.

Then I lie back down, roll onto my left shoulder, and am flooded with a resounding message for the rest of the night: It’s not about you! Andrea’s pain and suffering — the snakes — had passed into me, and that was the whole point.

For the rest of the night, maybe another three hours or so, I lie there thinking about how selfish I often am, and about the symbolism of the snakes. The feeling was so powerful that I started to cry. (Side note: people cry a lot on ayahuasca.)

The next day, Andrea tells me that she never managed to purge but that her nausea suddenly disappeared, after which she drifted into a peaceful half-sleep. I don’t know if that occurred around the time I saw those snakes, but the thought of it kept me up that night.

I’m not bothered by the thought of taking on her pain; it’s the whole wild scene — the snakes, the nausea, the visions. I can’t explain any of it and yet it was unshakably authentic.

Night 3: m aking love to my wife for the first time — again

I’m halfway through this thing, and so far it’s not at all what I expected. I still haven’t had to confront my past in the way I anticipated I would.

The third ceremony is led by two women. The facilitator is Abby, a young, quietly authoritative woman from Cincinnati who’s assisted by Kat from Montana. Both trained in Peru.

Abby begins by telling us that tonight is about the feminine spirit. “It’s a celebration of creation,” she says, “of birth and renewal.” The idea is calming.

I strike up a conversation with the guy next to me. His name is Brad and he’s another Canadian, a publisher from Toronto. This is his second trip to Rythmia, and he tells me that he plans to sell his business after this. “My whole identity is tied up in that,” he says, and “I don’t want that anymore.”

Before I can respond, there’s the first call to drink. The brew is thicker tonight, and it tastes like wax and vinegar. It hits hard and fast. I am hallucinating within 20 or 30 minutes.

I see myself floating in my mother’s womb, suspended in fluids and flesh. And then I see her life — it’s not quite like a movie; it’s more like a series of flashing visions that are just clear enough to resonate. I see her pain, her confusion. I see how hard it was for her to have me at 20 years old, and how little I’d thought about that.

I see her and my father, in a college apartment, wondering what the hell they’re going to do next. I realize how fucking terrified I would have been in that spot at that age. A wave of compassion washes over me; whatever resentments I was holding on to drop away.

Then the call for a second drink comes. I drink, walk outside, and then go right back to bed.

The scene shifts and I’m floating in what I assume is a kind of primordial soup. I think I’m a vibrating particle now, and string theory suddenly makes sense in a way I could never explain (I suck at math).

Abby starts to sing songs called icaros, which are performed in ayahuasca ceremonies throughout the Amazon. I sink deeper into a trance. My mind is speeding, and my body is frozen stiff. But a calm takes over me, and I start to smile and laugh.

I roll back onto my right side, and suddenly I see my wife’s face. I relive the first time we made love. We’re in college near a lake on campus. I can see our bikes behind us, the water in front of us, the blanket beneath us, and the grass all around us. I can smell the air. I relive this moment, understanding finally what made it so special.

There was no ego. I wasn’t an isolated “I,” a separate person with a separate consciousness. The feeling, I imagine, isn’t much different from what advanced meditators experience when their sense of self disappears. You simply have no awareness of anything but your body and the moment.

But then the vision turns dark.

I start to see every moment of our relationship in which she reached out to me and I missed it. I see her asking me to go to a meditation class, and I decline. I see her pause to ask me to connect at the peak of a mountain after a long hike in Boulder, Colorado, and I shrug it off. I see her ask me to go dancing at a show near our apartment, and I watch myself mindlessly decline.

I see myself stuck in my own head, my own thoughts, my own impulses. And I see the disappointment on her face. I see her see me miss an opportunity to reconnect.

Then I relive all those moments again, and this time I see myself do or say what I should have done or said. And I see the joy on her face. I see it so clearly that it hurts. I see how much time I wasted, how much love I withheld.

I’m crying again, this time even louder, and the smile on my face is so big that my jaw hurt the next day. And I think about how I’m going to look at my wife when I get back home, and how she’ll know I’m seeing her — really seeing her — for the first time all over again.

Then the bells start to ring, and it’s time to close the ceremony.

Night 4: t he most honest mirror you’ll ever see

I knew the fourth night would be rough when I saw the ayahuasca brew (each night it’s a slightly different recipe from a different tribe or region or tradition). It was so thick and oily that you couldn’t drink it. Instead, you had to force it down like paste.

The shaman, an Israeli man named Mitra, tells us that it was a 5,000-year-old recipe taken from one of the oldest Amazonian tribes in Colombia, where Mitra was trained. He’s tall, with a shaved head and an assured demeanor. He looks like he could demystify the cosmos and dunk a basketball at the same time.

This final ceremony is longer than the rest. Normally, we gather around 5:30 pm and finish by 1 or 2 am. This time we meet around 7:30 pm and don’t finish until sunrise the next day.

Mitra hands me my first cup, and I fall back to my mattress. I think it’s maybe half an hour before I slip into what I can only describe as the most vivid lucid dream.

I watch my entire life unfold as though it were projected on a movie screen. But it wasn’t my whole life; it was every lie, every counterfeit pose, every missed opportunity to say or do something true, every false act and ingratiating gesture, every pathetic attempt to be seen in a certain light.

The highlight reel is way longer than I imagined.

I see myself as a child groveling for attention from the “popular kids.” I see my 12-year-old self throwing a tantrum in the mall because my dad wouldn’t buy me the Nautica shirt that all those popular kids were wearing. I see myself in high school pretending to be something I was not, and I see all the doubts piling up inside me. I see all the times I self-censored purely out of fear of judgment.

I see myself building my identity based on what I thought would impress other people. On it went — one trivial act after another building up an edifice of falsehood.

I should note how unpleasant it is to see yourself from outside yourself. Most of us aren’t honest with ourselves about who we are and why we do what we do. To see it so clearly for the first time is painful.

The movie rages on into college and adult life, with my self-consciousness expanding. I see myself not looking into the eyes of the person I’m talking to because I’m playing out all the ways they might be judging me. I see myself pretending like my hair wasn’t thinning years ago and all the times I tried to hide it. And every time, the reason for posing was the same: I cared too much about what other people thought.

The experience made me aware of how often we all do this. We do it at home, at work, at the grocery store, at the gym. Most interactions are either transactional or performative. No one wants to make eye contact, and most of the time people freak out if you really try. We’re too self-conscious to listen. We’re thinking about what we’ll say next or how we’re being perceived.

All the posturing destroys any chance for a genuine connection.

The movie ends, and I’m exhausted. The meaning of the previous two nights is clearer now. I needed to feel small and connected before I could appreciate the absurdity of self-involvement. I had to relive those fleeting moments of union to see what made them so transcendent. And I had to go straight through my shame and regret to get beyond it.

When the ceremony finally ended, I sat up in my bed and starting scribbling notes to myself. Before I could finish, Mitra walked up to me and asked how I was doing. I tried to explain what happened, but I couldn’t.

He just kneeled, put his hand on my head, and said, “Happy birthday.”

The day after

I leave the retreat center around 11 am on Saturday to board a shuttle to the airport. With me are three people from my group.

One of them is Alex, a garrulous guy from London. I think he’s in his mid-30s, though I can’t recall. He’s got this dazed look on this face, like he just saw God. His eyes are on fire with excitement, and he’s already planning his next visit.

“When are you coming back?” he asks me. “I don’t know,” I say. He doesn’t quite believe me. Everyone, he assumes, is coming back, either here or to some other place like this. I’m still processing what happened; the thought of the next “trip” hasn’t even occurred to me yet.

We reach the airport, say our goodbyes, and then part ways. I’m standing in line waiting to go through customs, and I’m surprised at how relaxed I am. The line is long and slow, and everyone around me is annoyed. But I’m moving along, passport in hand, smiling for no particular reason.

Typically, I am one inconvenience removed from rage. Today is different, though. When a loud man rolls his heavy suitcase over my open toe, I shrug it off. Brief encounters with strangers like that are pleasant; the awkwardness is gone.

I’m not in my head, and so things aren’t happening to me; they’re just happening. It’s probably too much to say that my ego was gone — I don’t think it works like that. But seeing myself from a different perspective offered a chance to reassert control over it.

People say that a single ayahuasca trip is like a decade of therapy packed into a night. That’s probably an overstatement, but it’s not altogether wrong. In four nights, I feel like I let go of a lifetime’s worth of anger and bitterness.

At the time of this writing, I’ve been home three weeks. The ecstasy I felt in the days immediately after the trip has worn off as I’ve slipped back into my regular life. A tension has emerged that I still don’t quite understand.

I’m happier and less irritable than I was when I left. The tedium of everyday life feels less oppressive. Part of the reason is that I’m less anxious, less solipsistic. I really do find it easier to see what’s in front of me.

But there’s something gnawing at me. I want to go back to Costa Rica, and not for the reasons you might expect. Forget about the ayahuasca, forget about the tropical vistas, forget about all that. This experience was possible because a group of people came together with a shared intention. That creates an emotional intensity that’s hard to find elsewhere. Every person looks right at you, and you look right back.

But real life isn’t like that. I ride the Metro to work every day, and lately I’ve tried talking to random people. It’s a lot harder than you think.

A man sat across from me the other day wearing a Tulane hat (from the university in New Orleans). I used to live in the area, so I looked at him until he looked back, assuming I’d strike up a conversation. But once we locked eyes, I could sense his agitation and we both turned our heads. Nothing weird or hostile — just clumsy.

I’ve spent years making an heroic effort to avoid awkward exchanges, so I get it. But I’m honestly worried that in a few weeks or months, I’ll be that guy again. And in retrospect, this whole journey will feel like a brief holiday of awareness.

I asked my wife the other day if I seem different to her after the trip. She said that she always felt like she had to force me to offer my attention, especially in those quiet, simple moments, and that now I give it freely. I do find it easier to listen since I returned, and it’s amazing what a difference that can make.

I keep thinking about this idea that a night of ayahuasca is like a decade of therapy. Do you pay a price for taking this kind of shortcut? Are the effects short-lived? Maybe.

I know it’s hard to be in the world without being of the world. And the world is a lonely place full of lonely people. You can’t change that, but you can change your orientation to it. In my case, psychedelics made that a little easier.

And what of the self and the ego? I believed these things to be illusions before I took ayahuasca, and now I’m certain that they are. But what does that actually mean in day-to-day life? Not as much as it should. The ego might be a fiction or a construct or whatever you want to call it, but the sensation of it is near impossible to shake.

Even after taking what is arguably the most powerful ego-dissolving medicine on the planet, I still live in a world that reinforces the story of me all the time. There’s no easy way around all that.

I don’t know what life will be like in six months or a year, but I think ayahuasca was the greatest thing that has happened to my marriage. It wasn’t about becoming a better person; it was about appreciating the role my wife — and other relationships — play in my life. I had to escape my head to see that.

Now that I’ve had some time to think about it, I’d say ayahuasca is the best and worst thing I’ve ever done. I spent a week staring down all my bullshit and all my insecurities and it was totally liberating. But it was also terrifying and not something I want — or need — to see again.

A question worth asking: If you looked into the world’s most honest mirror, what would you see?

Editor’s note: this story was originally published on February 19, 2018.

Editor: Eliza Barclay Photos: Kainaz Amaria Photo illustrations: Javier Zarracina Copy editor: Tim Ryan Williams

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• South America
• Ayahuasca How This Hallucinogenic Plant...

Ayahuasca: The Hallucinogenic Plant Attracting Hordes of Tourists to South America

Most people visit South America to relish in the sights , sounds , and culture of this incredibly diverse continent. Others, however, come for different reasons. Rather than seek out adventure and fun, they come to receive healing from traditional Amazonian shamans who use a powerful hallucinogenic concoction to cure predicaments of the mind and soul.

The shamanic medicine in question is ayahuasca, a sacred vine mixed together with other native plants to create an intoxicating brew. Dubbed the ‘vine of the soul,’ when ingested this ancient Amazonian potion releases a significant quantity of DMT, a powerful psychedelic compound that provokes intense hallucinations. Believers associate these symptoms with entering another dimension—a deeply spiritual experience that has a profound healing effect. There’s speculation that small doses of DMT are produced naturally in human beings and released in our sleep, causing the strange sensation of dreaming.

Ayahuasca has been used by the indigenous people of the Amazon for hundreds of years, long before Europeans first arrived on the continent. No one is quite sure how it was discovered, although legend dictates mysterious forest spirits guided the natives into discovering the combination in order to grant them passage into a spiritual dimension. Given its extremely powerful properties, ayahuasca has traditionally been used by shamans to achieve spiritual enlightenment and cure a variety of ailments. For this reason, it remains legal in much of South America as a form of traditional medicine.

But in recent years, the sacred brew has found a more commercial application: ayahuasca tourism. Every year, tens of thousands of foreign tourists travel to all corners of the South American Amazon to try the medicine for themselves. Most seek spiritual enlightenment or treatment for conditions like drug addiction and emotional trauma. Others simply want to experience powerful hallucinations that are truly out of this world.

The industry has become increasingly popular in the last 15 years thanks to word of mouth testimonials, slick marketing campaigns, and all-inclusive package deals at English-speaking ayahuasca retreats. Adventurous new-age types find the prospect of traveling to the remote jungles of South America to ingest a psychedelic medicinal potion difficult to resist, while those with chronic mental or emotional issues are prepared to try just about anything to alleviate their pain.

Nowhere is ayahuasca tourism more prevalent than the remote jungle town of Iquitos in Peru. Here, over a hundred centers offer shamanic services that primarily target foreign tourists who are happy to fork out thousands for a week long retreat. Dedicated minivans whisk psychedelic pilgrims between the airport and their lodging, while taxi drivers tout discounted shamanic services to passengers in broken English. In Iquitos, ayahuasca is utterly prolific.

Of all the ayahuasca activity in Iquitos, only 17 centers are officially licensed with the Peruvian government . This rampant lack of regulation has created serious concerns over the safety of the industry. Although ayahuasca is generally considered to be safe when administered responsibly, several foreigners have died during ceremonies that were intended to heal.

These deaths have been attributed to clashes with pre-existing medical conditions, toxins delivered during the preparation process, and the use of Toé, a different psychotropic plant that is known to be deadly. What each case has in common is a degree of negligence. In the quest to maximize profits, many healing centers employ under-qualified ‘charlatan’ shamans and have a lack of basic medical facilities.

Tourists have also reported being sexually assaulted, beaten, and robbed while in the paralytic stupor the drug causes. Others have completely lost their minds and gone AWOL, only to be found ranting, raving, and naked in public several days later.

Despite the well-publicized risks, ayahuasca tourism continues to thrive. Many patients claim the treatment has been a life-changing experience, able to cure anything from depression to eating disorders. Although research on the medicinal effects of psychotropic substances such as ayahuasca and magic mushrooms is still in its infancy, a number of promising indicators have been observed. The Brazilian prison system, for example, has found ayahuasca to be incredibly successful in helping inmates come to terms with their crimes and reintegrate into society.

Regardless of the beneficial effects ayahuasca can offer, the poorly regulated sector has some clear and present dangers. Tempted tourists should only consider signing up with a reputable retreat that employs qualified personnel and has adequate medical facilities. If not, they risk becoming just another statistic of an increasingly dubious industry.

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Inside Peru’s Amazonian mind-altering drug camps where Westerners flock for spiritual highs and cancer cures

Westerners pay hundreds of pounds to trek deep into the Amazon for ayahuasca rituals which induce hallucinations more intense than LSD

• Published : 13:41, 5 May 2018
• Updated : 17:29, 14 May 2018
• Published : Invalid Date,

DEPENDING on who you ask, ayahuasca is either a dreamy brew which takes you on a spiritual journey and purges the body of toxins - or a dangerous narcotic which can kill.

Adventurers, backpackers and even celebs pay hundreds of pounds to trek deep into the Amazon rain forest to sample the tea, said to induce hallucinations more intense than LSD.

Its practitioners claim the traditional medicine, used in shamanic cleansing rituals for centuries, treats anything from alcohol addiction and depression to cancer.

But several Westerners are alleged to have died after drinking the thick brown liquid, made by chopping and boiling two wild plants.

Only last month in Peru, Canadian tourist Sebastian Woodroffe was lynched by a mob who claimed he killed a local medicine woman teaching him the ways of ayahuasca.

The brew, also known as yage, has been around since at least the 1700s when Christian missionaries from Europe first witnessed shamans holding mystical ceremonies deep in the Amazon.

They were so shocked by the lucid, other-worldly state its takers fell into they referred to it as "the work of the devil", according to the book Ayahuasca: A Powerful Healing and Spiritual Medicine .

One doctor who started taking the tea following a cancer diagnosis said he saw "serpents, birds and jaguar-like animals soaring, swirling, twisting and racing at almost lightning speed throughout my entire system".

More recently, it has become trendy for Westerners to flock to lodges and retreats in the rain forest, where ayahuasca naturally grows, for the "authentic" Amazon experience.

Photographer Manuel Medir, who travelled into the wilds of Peru with a group of American tourists, described every aspect of the spiritual journey to Sun Online.

Medir documented Tim Richard and two others taking part in a ceremony known as "maloka", which can cost upwards of £100-a-day, in the remote Peruvian town of Aseria Nueva Luz de Fatima.

From this already remote town near the banks of the Ucayali river, they trekked another 15 minutes further into the jungle to meet local shaman, and spiritual guide,  Gilber Reategui.

He told them that here - far away from other people - there was a greater connection with mother Earth.

As the sun went down, the visitors made themselves comfortable on thin mattresses scattered around the straw hut while the medicine man filled the room with tobacco smoke.

"The tourists were relaxed, one or two candles were lit and then the ceremony begun," said Medir, who did not drink the tea. "First they washed their hands with some cologne, then the shaman threw smoke at them - each has his own routine.

"Once the room was cleaned of bad spirits, the shaman served the dose of ayahuasca."

The tea is prepared by mixing the ayahuasca vine with bits of chacruna shrub containing a hallucinogenic chemical known as dimethyltryptamine (DMT).

The plants are chopped up and boiled in the same bowl until they form a thick, brown liquid, whose strength depends on the practitioner and the number of consecutive days it's taken.

It can take around 30 minutes for the effects to kick in - signalled by vomiting which apparently gets rid of toxins - and trips can last as long as eight hours.

"Once the ayahuasca was taken, there was silence," said Medir. "Once it took effect, the shaman began to sing icaros, which ward off bad spirits, bring good luck and connect you with nature.

"The candles were put out and the ceremony continued in complete darkness. The shaman kept singing and then he lit a cigar.

"After about three hours, when the shaman felt everything was calm, the ceremony ended."

Medir said every aspect of the men's journey - from what they eat to their physical exertion - was very carefully managed.

They were fed fresh fruit and vegetable and banned from fried food or anything that contained salt. They were also told to move around as little as possible so there body is "ready for the ayahuasca".

These days, people don't even need to leave the country to try the herb, which is legal in the UK and US, with some website selling it for as little as £9 per 100g.

Dr Donald Topping even credited the herb for curing his cancer in his report entitled  Ayahuasca and Cancer: One Man's Experience.

But while stars like Lindsay Lohan and Sting swear by the brew, it has been blamed for the deaths of several Westerners, including gap year student Henry Miller, in South America.

Miller was just 19 when when his body was dumped on the side of a dirt road in Mocoa, Colombia, following a traditional ayahuasca-taking ritual in April 2014.

One year later, Cambridge graduate Unais Gomes was stabbed to death by a fellow traveller after the pair drank ayahuasca in Peru.

His killer, 29-year-old Canadian Joshua Stevens, was released without charge after witnesses said he acted in self defence after Gomes picked up the kitchen knife during a "bad trip".

It sounds like a plot of a horror movie - two men possessed by the evil spirits of the forest - but the behaviour can be explained by the tea's unique scientific properties.

Ayahuasca acts on levels of serotonin - the neurotransmitter which affects someone's mood, appetite, memory and even sexual desire -  while a deficiency in the chemical leads to depression.

This also explains sheer difference in people's experience: While some have ethereal, spiritual trips, Psychiatry Online warns it can result in the potentially-fatal serotonin syndrome.

The symptoms include temperature, agitation, increased reflexes, tremor, sweating, dilated pupils, and diarrhoea.

Its effects are intensified by the addition of DMT, a powerful naturally occurring chemical branded the "spirit molecule" which is illegal in most countries .

Many people are convinced they encountered angels, aliens, spirits and demons after taking the drug - and nearly all felt that "the sessions were among the most profound experiences of their lives", according to Dr Rick Strassman, who specialises in psychopharmacology.

In one famous experiment, ethnobotanist Terence McKenna reported seeing and interacting with "machine elves" in DMT "hyperspace".

But the Foreign Office clearly warns the brew "is not regulated and its interaction with existing medical conditions isn’t well understood".

It adds: "People have suffered serious illnesses and in some cases death after participating in these ceremonies.

"Spiritual cleansing retreats are usually some distance from populated areas making it difficult to access medical attention for those who need it."

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It's not just the negative chemical effects: There have been several reports of shamans abusing and robbing their customers.

A German woman was reportedly raped and beaten by a medicine man and his accomplice during an ayahuasca ceremony in the Amazon in 2010.

And in 2013, a Slovakian woman accused a shaman of sexually assaulting her during a ritual in Peru.

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Ayahuasca: Psychedelic drug brewed by indigenous Amazonian tribes 'could be used to treat depression and alcoholism'

Hallucinogenic drink traditionally taken during shamanic ceremonies has attracted backpackers to south america in search of spiritual awakening, article bookmarked.

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A psychedelic drug brewed by indigenous South American tribes could be used to treat alcoholism and depression, new research suggests.

Ayahuasca , a plant-based potion often used in spiritual medicine by indigenous Amazonians, is linked to improved well-being and holds potential as a psychiatric therapy, a study found.

The hallucinogenic concoction, traditionally administered during shamanic ceremonies, has led to a tourism boom in the region as thousands of western backpackers are drawn to the upper reaches of the Amazon river each year in search of spiritual awakening and out-of-body experiences.

• Ayahuasca: The shamanic brew that produces out-of-body experiences

Others drink ayahuasca in the hope of treating post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and addictions.

Researchers from the University of Exeter and University College London used data from more than 96,000 people worldwide in the largest study on the effects of the drug to date.

Respondents who had taken ayahuasca in the past year reported better general well-being than those who had not.

Users also reported lower problematic alcohol use than people who took LSD or magic mushrooms, psychedelic drugs that previous research has suggested can help alcoholics tackle their addiction.

"These findings lend some support to the notion that ayahuasca could be an important and powerful tool in treating depression and alcohol use disorders," said lead author Dr Will Lawn, of University College London.

"Recent research has demonstrated ayahuasca's potential as a psychiatric medicine, and our current study provides further evidence that it may be a safe and promising treatment."

The drug, which causes users to vomit or 'purge' before inducing hallucinations, is brewed by boiling stems of the ayahuasca vine with leaves from the chacruna plant. Chacruna contains the potent potent psychedelic compound dimethyltryptamine, better known as DMT, an illegal class A drug in the UK.

Researchers used the Global Drug Survey, which gathers data from thousands of people around the world, to compare the well-being of ayahuasca users and non-users.

Of the respondents, 527 were ayahuasca users, 18,138 took LSD or magic mushrooms, and 78,236 did not take psychedelic drugs.

The survey data showed a higher incidence of lifetime mental illness diagnoses among ayahuasca users, although further analysis found this was confined to users from countries without a tradition of taking the drug.

Senior author Professor Celia Morgan, of the University of Exeter, said: "If ayahuasca is to represent an important treatment, it is critical that its short and long-term effects are investigated, and safety established.

• Hallucinogenic drug ayahuasca could help treat eating disorders
• The lawyer fighting for people to take drugs for their religion
• British man stabbed to death in Amazonian psychedelic ceremony

"Several observational studies have examined the long-term effects of regular ayahuasca use in the religious context. In this work, long-term ayahuasca use has not been found to impact on cognitive ability, produce addiction or worsen mental health problems.

"In fact, some of these observational studies suggest that ayahuasca use is associated with less problematic alcohol and drug use, and better mental health and cognitive functioning."

The researchers noted their findings, published in the Nature journal Scientific Reports , were "purely observational and do not demonstrate causality". They said controlled trials were needed to "fully examine ayahuasca's ability to help treat mood and addiction disorders".

A separate study earlier this year concluded drinking ayahuasca could help treat eating disorders.

Ayahuasca has made headlines around the world in recent years after being linked to the deaths of several young tourists.

In December 2015, British tourist Unais Gomes, 25, was stabbed to death by a Canadian backpacker during an ayahuasca ceremony at a spiritual retreat in Peru. Joshua Stevens, 29, said he killed Mr Gomes in self-defence after screamed "it's time to get your demons out" and attacked him with a knife.

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Colombia’s New Drug Problem

Cocaine tourism is now a thing in medellín..

Ben Grenrock

Each week, Roads & Kingdoms and Slate publish a new dispatch from around the globe. For more foreign correspondence mixed with food, war, travel, and photography, visit its online magazine or follow @roadskingdoms on Twitter.

I’d been told that Carmen was the best restaurant in Medellín; maybe in all of Colombia. Back in the U.S., a superlative like that would send me fleeing to the nearest discount grocery store or to the familiar fluorescent glow of a taco truck. * But when on vacation, one does things they normally wouldn’t do at home. One indulges.

Thus, I found myself blotting the last smudges of black truffle agnolotti off my lips with a white cloth napkin, having finished a meal whose flavors had been narrowly outshined by the artistic flair with which it had been presented. The napkin, now soiled with agnolotti (whatever that is), ended up in an undignified ball on the table, where it looked glaringly out of place in this atmosphere of meticulously crafted lighting and slender wine glasses.

I headed for the bathrooms and was unsurprised to find them as tastefully arranged as everything else in Carmen. What I was surprised to find were several tiny Ziploc baggies crusted with white powder. Two were discarded on the floor, and a glance into the wastebasket revealed at least two more. Another floated in listless circles around the toilet bowl.

These relics of drug use seemed anachronistic in such a posh setting, and yet they reinforced the prevailing stereotype about Medellín. The city’s reputation is intimately tied to cocaine. The two are linked by thick white lines of association that stretch across oceans and back into history. When most people outside of South America hear the word “Medellín,” their minds unwittingly time-travel back to an era of cartels, violence, and kidnappings, unprecedented in world history, one that left a conspicuous stain on the global perception of the city, as well as on the psyches of its citizens.

But the massive scale of trafficking and terror connected with the drug cartels are emblematic of Medellín’s past rather than its present. Over the last decade, the city has been experiencing something of a renaissance, growing safer, more prosperous, and winning international acclaim for its progressive reforms as life under the cartels recedes into memory. While locals are aware of—and proud of—their city’s continuing transformation, many visitors flocking to the city in the wake of these positive changes bring their preconceptions about the old Medellín with them. In places frequented by tourists, small powder-dusted baggies are ubiquitous. As its citizens try to distance themselves from a traumatic past, it seems that Medellín has paradoxically found itself suffering from a new kind of drug problem, not in spite of its burgeoning positive identity but because of it.

A restaurant like Carmen could not have existed in Medellín 15 years ago. If it had, its customers would likely have been paying for their truffle oil–brushed entrées with drug money, many of them arriving for their reservations in armored cars. As recently as the early 1990s, Medellín was the murder capital of the world. When the violence peaked in 1991, the city recorded 381 murders per 100,000 residents. To put that in perspective, Caracas—the city earning the unpleasant distinction of 2016’s murder capital—saw 120 murders per 100,000. The presence of paramilitary groups and rebel insurgents contributed to Medellín’s astounding levels of violence, but the bulk of the killings can be attributed to the Medellín Cartel, headed by the infamous Pablo Escobar, who, from 1975 until his death in 1994, essentially ran the city—if not the entire country—terrorizing its citizens and corrupting its institutions.

Today, Medellín is unrecognizable from what it was during those dangerous times. In 2015, the city saw only 20 murders per 100,000 residents, continuing a steady trend of declining violence with each passing annum. Due in part to this newfound stability, its economy is flourishing. The city’s gross domestic product per capita grew an average of 4.1 percent every year from 2000 to 2010 and 5.4 percent each year from 2011 to 2016. In 2014, it was named the “highest performing Latin American metro area” by the Washington, D.C.–based Brookings Institution.

A simultaneous cause and effect of Medellín’s thriving economy and diminished violence are the tourists and foreign investors flocking to a city that was once an explicit no-go zone. While its economic numbers are impressive, the tourist explosion in Medellín, and in Colombia as a whole, is staggering. In 2005, Escobar a recent memory and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, still at large, Colombia hosted just over half a million tourists. A decade later, that number had quintupled, with the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism reporting that the country had drawn 2.5 million foreign visitors in 2015 and forecasting that the tourism industry would generate roughly $6 billion of revenue by 2018.

In Medellín specifically, one need only walk through the Poblado district, the city’s wealthiest, to see the drastic impact of the tourism boom. Poblado is entirely unrecognizable from the majority of the other 16 districts in Medellín. The unfinished brick facades of El Centro and the cinder block shacks that comprise the seemingly endless slums paving the mountainous slopes around the city are nowhere to be found there. Its streets—fecund with both tropical foliage and commerce—are lined with restaurants like Carmen that cater to international tastes and exchange rates, bars and nightclubs bearing English names, and an ever-multiplying number of hostels. From 2010 to 2016, the amount of tourist hostels in Medellín rose from five to 50, the vast majority of them swooping up Poblado’s recently coveted real estate.

While the clubs, bars, hostels, and restaurants have analogs in any city around the world frequented by backpackers, Poblado has developed certain symptoms of its tourism that can’t be found anywhere else. The most evident are the men and boys selling gum and cigarettes. Whenever I found myself walking through Poblado, invariably several of these entrepreneurs would approach me at various points along my stroll, oblong boxes bristling with Trident and Marlboro slung around their necks. Hocking their wears, each of them called out the same four words in Spanish: “Cigarettes? Gum? Cocaine? Marijuana?” In the languid humidity of an afternoon or in the barely controlled rainbow of chaos spilling out of Parque Lleras by night, in a leafy alleyway or a mere five yards from a squadron of police officers on Calle 10 (Poblado’s main artery), this same refrain was directed at me and at the droves of visitors filing past. These men’s boxes of gum and cigarettes were almost always full. Clearly the sale of the last two items on offer accounted for most of their profits.

Leave Poblado for any area not inundated with foreigners and the pushers disappear. They know where the demand for their product lies, and it’s not with locals. Drastically lowered crime rates, economic growth, and a slew of internationally lauded public-works projects targeted at improving the infrastructure of the city’s poorest communities have brought a palpable and long-overdue zeitgeist of hope to today’s Medellín—of looking toward a bright future rather than a dark past. And there is nothing more symbolic of the city’s past than the illicit white powder.

The street dealers’ customers are almost exclusively tourists looking to easily acquire cocaine in a place where it is sold for $3 a gram—a fraction of the roughly $60 it costs in Europe or the U.S., and nearly a hundredth of the price in New Zealand or Australia, where it goes for between $200 and $300 per gram. In most tourists’ home countries, cocaine is a drug of the wealthy and even for those who can afford it, it is stigmatized to the point one generally wouldn’t discuss or partake in it openly.

But, as with the prohibitive price tag, among tourists in Medellín, the stigma that surrounds cocaine use is largely absent. Backpackers in hostels loudly compare the prices at which they bought their coke and debate the quality of their respective purchases. As a night in one of Poblado’s clubs progresses, cocaine use overflows from the bathroom stalls to the urinals, and then eventually to any part of the club where there’s sufficient space to withdraw a key and baggie. While cocaine use this brazen and on this scale would be unthinkable in the hometowns of these visitors, when on vacation one does things one wouldn’t normally do at home. One indulges.

The reasoning behind my uncharacteristically opulent meal at Medellín’s premier restaurant wasn’t so different from what compels many people to visit Medellín in the first place. But unlike fine dining, many tourists see cocaine as a part of Medellín’s culture; a box to tick off the list of locale-specific activities like watching a tango in Buenos Aires or visiting Machu Picchu in Peru. And though no guidebook I’ve ever read urges its readers to do cocaine in Medellín, within the insular community of backpackers, this idea is repeatedly reinforced.

Almost every hostel in the city offers “Pablo Escobar Tours,” cementing the association with a purveyor of atrocities into Medellín’s cultural fabric, and I’ve overheard hostel employees advise patrons on the best spots to buy drugs. In researching this article, I came across this website that equates visiting Medellín and not sampling the cocaine there with passing up the opportunity to eat cheese while in Paris. In fact, I found as many (if not more) blog posts about how to safely acquire the drug as articles about any of the city’s legal attractions.

Buying drugs in Medellín is illegal, but the overwhelming prevalence of this activity in Poblado makes it obvious that police are not cracking down on the sale of cocaine as hard as they could be. The presence of neon-vested cops in the area is massively disproportionate to in Medellín’s other neighborhoods. In Poblado, they are on almost every corner, nearly as many cops as there are dealers.

It seems this heavy police presence is more for the purpose of discouraging violent crime directed at tourists than to enforce drug policy. It wouldn’t be surprising if this was an unofficial policy: Protect the tourists and don’t be too aggressive with dealers. Tourists in Poblado mean money. For everyone. To the municipality, foreigners who come to patronize upscale restaurants like Carmen—which was itself opened by a pair of Colombians who used to live in California—bring external revenue in. * The economic value of tourists to dealers has already been stated, but the police, too, have found ways to capitalize on visitors and their proclivities.

It’s so common for tourists to walk around Poblado with drugs on them that a bizarre inversion of stop-and-frisk has become a fact of life in Medellín. But unlike those profiled based on their appearance in the United States, tourists caught with drugs are rarely ever arrested. Foreigners I met there, a Canadian and an Afghani who’d been living in the city for roughly six months each, told me they are searched for drugs so frequently they always keep a wad of pesos loose in their pockets, easily accessible to minimize the time and hassle of producing a bribe. In fact, they had been searched that very day. After producing the equivalent of $25, they were allowed to walk away, a baggie of cocaine safely returned to the pocket in which it had been discovered by police.

As the aging War on Drugs has proven, drug prohibitions are both reductionist and ineffective . Drugs and drug use are rarely a cause of societal strife. Rather, it is the violence and criminal activity associated with the illegal sale of drugs that costs people their lives, homes, and hopes. At least legislatively, Colombia seems to support this idea, as it has constitutionally decriminalized the possession of up to twenty grams of marijuana and up to a gram of cocaine. The use of cocaine in Colombia, or anywhere else for that matter, isn’t necessarily the problem. However, in the case of Medellín what the demand for cocaine is doing to both strengthen the criminal organizations still clinging to the frayed remnants of the Medellín Cartel and to keep the collective consciousness of Medellín’s citizens trapped in a traumatic past, is nothing if not problematic.

Far from Poblado’s leafy streets, in the slums—or comunas, as they are known locally—two rival criminal organizations control the drug trafficking trade: the Oficina de Envigado and the Urabeños. Though their combined impact is a mere shadow of the reign of terror perpetrated by their predecessor two decades ago, these gangs continue to extort, recruit from, and commit violent acts in the impoverished comunas . The gangs’ main focus is the trafficking of drugs northward, but control of the city’s internal drug trade, worth an estimated $5.5 million, according to police reports, is undoubtedly a cause of much of the crime the comunas are subjected to. Drug tourism in Medellín creates a lucrative market for these gangs, one where consumers are just a bus ride away rather than across international borders. Foreigners arrive with more money to spend during their stays than the average Colombian earns in months, and many of them come to spend that money predominantly on one thing.

It is no wonder, then, that although openness and hospitality are deeply ingrained in Colombian culture, many citizens of Medellín have begun to view visitors with suspicion and veiled disdain. The Envigado district, similarly affluent and charming to its neighbor Poblado, has pushed for legislation banning the construction of new hostels in its jurisdiction, not wanting to see its streets go the way of Poblado’s and become lined with dealers.

The open consumption of cocaine in a club by tourists looking to have safe, whitewashed facsimiles of what they view as the “Medellín experience” appears relatively benign when compared with the mass murders occurring on those same streets not so long ago. But the little Ziploc bags that they leave behind, littering the city’s streets, clubs, and even the classy restaurants springing up in the wake of its progress are a constant reminder to Medellín’s citizenry of trauma that left many of their cohort dead. The city’s government and its people are closer to redefining their collective identity than ever. But as Medellín continues to grow safer and more prosperous and is therefore visited by an increasing number of tourists chasing vices they see as both discounted and more socially accepted there than they are in their homelands, it will remain trapped in a vicious cycle, unable to fully shake itself free from the weight of its history.

*Correction, June 26, 2017: This post originally misstated that the owners of Carmen were Californian. ( Return. )

*Update, June 27, 2017:  This sentence was originally omitted from an early version of this article due to an editing error. ( Return. )

What draws foreign travellers to psychedelic drugs in South America?

Some say it’s a life-changing experience that awakens your consciousness. others say it’s a fast-track way to delirium, vomiting and possibly losing your mind. whatever the risks, thousands of foreigners flock to south america each year to experience the psychedelic drug ayahuasca..

A healer starting a yage (ayahuasca) ceremony in Colombia. (Getty)

"If used properly, it can help people access reality, and it's really reality that's inspiring people."

Experiencing 'death'

Ayahuasca in Australia

A wonder cure.

"I just don't know if it actually does what everyone claims it does, which is heal you."

'There's always been a dark side'

Freeing your mind or losing it?

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Scientists Discover Rich Trove Of Ancient Mind-Altering Drugs In South America

Trends Reporter, HuffPost

Researchers have discovered evidence of cocaine and hallucinogenic compounds in a leather bag believed to have belonged to shamans at an ancient burial site in Bolivia, according to Science magazine.

An analysis of the findings beneath ancient llama dung revealed evidence of “multiple psychoactive plants,” including key compounds (harmine and dimethyltryptamine) of the hallucinogenic plant ayahuasca (which is still used today).

It’s considered the richest find to date of ancient mind-altering drugs in South America.

The drugs were discovered inside the leather bag in a 1,000-year-old smaller pouch made of fox snouts in a rock shelter in the Andes highlands in southwestern Boliva. The find was detailed in a study by researchers from universities in California, Pennsylvania, Bolivia and New Zealand, and published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The drugs weren’t for recreational use, according to the scientists, but were likely used by shamans to induce “nonordinary states of consciousness” as part of funeral rituals. Or they may have been used for medicinal purposes.

The fact that the materials came from diverse areas “suggests that hallucinogenic plants moved across significant distances and that an intricate botanical knowledge was intrinsic to pre-Columbian ritual practices,” the study states.

“Whoever had this bag of amazing goodies … would have had to travel great distances to acquire those plants,” said Melanie Miller, lead study author and a bio-archaeologist at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand. “Or they had really extensive exchange networks,” she told Science magazine.

The pouch also held various “drug paraphernalia,” including a wooden “snuffing tube” and bone spatula seed crushers.

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Popular in the community, from our partner, more in science.

From the Newsletter of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies MAPS - Volume 8 Number 3 Autumn 1998 - pp. 59-62

Ayahuasca tourism in south america, written for anthropology of tourism, university of maryland at college park.

TRACKING TRANSATLANTIC DRUG FLOWS

Cocaine's path from south america across the caribbean to europe, by christopher hernandez-roy, rubi bledsoe & andrea michelle cerén | september 19 th , 2023.

The global cocaine trade has seen seismic shifts in the last decade as drug traffickers looked beyond the United States to set their sights on more lucrative markets in Europe.   

Cocaine consumption in Europe has increased significantly over the last decade. The rise of cocaine has caused an unprecedented wave of drug-related violence across Europe, especially in port cities like Rotterdam . As drug use has increased, so have drug-overdose deaths .

Governments have struggled to respond to this rising threat to public health and security.

Understanding how cocaine makes its way from South America through the Caribbean to Europe, as well as the geographic and political nature of the trafficking routes that connect them, will be critical for crafting effective solutions to this crisis.

Europe's Cocaine Problem

In 2020, Western and Central Europe comprised 21 percent of the global demand of cocaine. The drug is now the second most consumed illicit drug on the entire continent behind cannabis.

Europe has become an attractive destination for drug traffickers seeking higher profits and lower risks. This is due to higher market prices and lesser legal penalties for possession and consumption than in the United States.

While a kilogram of cocaine is priced at around $28,000 in the United States, the same kilogram is priced at around $40,000 in places like France and Spain—and a staggering $219,454 in Estonia.

Furthermore, European interdiction efforts in Europe and the Caribbean territories do not match U.S. disruption efforts in the Western Hemisphere. Available data  suggests  the European Union spends only $3-4 billion on supply-side reduction in comparison to $17.4 billion for the United States. According to European officials, this allows border security forces to interdict only around 10–12 percent of the total flow of cocaine into the continent.

Without a multipronged approach to curb Europe’s cocaine demand through higher legal penalities and transatlantic interdiction efforts, the cocaine market there will continue to boom—and with it, drug violence and health threats.

The problem begins at the source of production: South America.

South America: Cultivation & Crossing Points

Cocaine is produced from the coca plant, which is grown throughout South America. The majority of coca harvesting takes place in three countries, Colombia, Bolivia, and Peru, which also serve as the starting point of the drug trade to Europe.

In 2020, these three countries alone grew an estimated 99.5 percent of the global coca cultivation.

Peru, located on the Pacific coast, is able to reach both the United States and Europe by transporting drugs through countries with high levels of trade with the European Union like Ecuador and Brazil.

Colombia’s dominance of the cocaine market, as well as its proximity to Mexico and the Caribbean, makes it the de facto supplier of the United States. In 2021, 98 percent of the forensic analyses conducted on cocaine seized in the United States traced its origin to Colombia.

However, cocaine seized in Europe had a more complex breakdown, with 67 percent originating in Colombia, 27 percent in Peru, and 5 percent in Bolivia.

Although the refined cocaine is occasionally transported directly to Europe from South America, increased patrolling in areas like Colombia’s coastline has pushed drug traffickers to diversify their routes, including through the Caribbean.

To get to the Caribbean, drug traffickers favor transiting from Colombia through Venezuela.

The Colombia–Venezuela border in particular has lax controls on the Venezuelan side, and some members of the Venezuelan military are involved or support the trafficking of drugs.

A worker in Colombia sprinkles lime over crushed coca leaves as they are processed into coca paste.

These factors allow for the flow of cocaine between the two countries, mainly through the crossing points in Catatumbo, Vichada, and Guanina.

Once cocaine has arrived in Venezuela, it is then transported to the Caribbean through the Guajira and Paraguaná Peninsulas .

Image captions

The Caribbean: A Transshipment Paradise

The Caribbean’s low interdiction  capacity and proximity to South America makes it an attractive route for drug traffickers looking for ways to transport large amounts of cocaine from South America to Europe.

Criminal groups thrive in an atmosphere of corruption and impunity. When cocaine goes through ports and airports, drug traffickers often rely on bribes or compromised authorities to ensure their illicit cargo passes swiftly and without detection.

This intersection of corruption and impunity is best seen in commercial ports. It has been extensively reported that criminal groups have infiltrated the commercial operations of ports that enables them to introduce cocaine into shipping containers destined to Europe.

Cargo vessels offer one of the most advantageous methods of transporting cocaine because of the large volume of trade between the Caribbean and Europe.

Interact with the 3D visualization below to learn some of the ways traffickers use shipping containers to conceal cocaine.

While shipping containers represent the most lucrative method of transporting cocaine via sea, traffickers are also known to use mules to transport cocaine via air. Other methods of transportation across the Caribbean include go-fast boats, small, privately owned aircraft, and narcosubs .

There are a multitude of paths drug traffickers may take through the Caribbean into Europe, including island hopping and moving through European overseas territories.

Island Hopping

“Island hopping” involves moving large amounts of cocaine from island to island, typically in go-fast boats. The ultimate goal is reaching a large port or airport, such as the port of Caucedo in the Dominican Republic.

By moving cocaine from island to island in small go-fast boats, traffickers reduce the chance of being detected by maritime patrol. Drug traffickers typically transport the cocaine during nighttime and leave it on deserted beaches for the next transportista to move it up the supply chain until it reaches a major port.

A sample route may begin with cocaine leaving the small Venezuelan port town of Guiria toward Trinidad and Tobago. Trinidad and Tobago is only seven miles away from the Venezuelan coast, typically a 12-minute boat ride.

From there, traffickers can make multiple stops along the Lesser Antilles all the way to Hispaniola, either to the Dominican Republic or to the Haitian side of the island.  

The Dominican Republic’s six container ports and bustling airports present multiple opportunities  for moving people, goods, and drugs.

The Dominican Republic reported an annual seizure of 27.7 tonnes (30.5 tons or 61,000 pounds) of cocaine in 2022, which is triple the amount seized in 2020. Cocaine leaving the Dominican Republic is typically destined for Spain , mainly due to the shared language, though recent reports claim Dutch and Dominican criminal groups are building stronger ties .

Weak governance and limited economic opportunities in the Caribbean are two of the main vulnerabilities that drug traffickers exploit. Stronger institutions and stronger local economies therefore have the potential to reduce the likelihood of local officials and dock workers participating in part of the drug trade supply chain.

Europe in the Caribbean

European overseas territories offer distinct advantages to drug smugglers over other parts of the Caribbean. They include self-governing territories in the case of the Kingdom of the Netherlands or the United Kingdom, or in the case of France, are an integral part of the country. They usually include a common language, business connections, and family ties, in addition to direct transportation links to Europe by air or maritime routes. In the case of French Guiana, it also shares a common currency, the euro.

The French Territories

French Guiana, Guadeloupe, and Martinique are integral parts of France, each one being one of the country’s 101 departments . These territories are also part of the European Union. European passport holders can travel to these territories and back to Europe visa-free.

This route starts with cocaine leaving Colombia and Venezuela in small planes transiting through Guyana or the porous border with Suriname .

In Suriname, drug traffickers cross the Maroni River, a natural border between Suriname and French Guiana. Once in French Guiana, the cocaine departs in cargo vessels or by mules that take commercial flights to France.

In a report presented to the French Senate in September of 2020, it was estimated that between 15 and 20 percent of the cocaine reaching France comes from French Guiana.

The Dutch Territories

The islands of Bonaire, Saint Eustatius, and Saba are special municipalities within the Netherlands and are jointly referred to as the Caribbean Netherlands. Aruba, Curaçao, and St. Maarten are independent countries that, along with the Netherlands, are part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Royal Netherlands Navy plays a part in defense and security, including from bases in Curaçao and Aruba. In 2022, it intercepted over 35 tonnes (38 tons) of cocaine in the waters of its territories in the Caribbean.

Cocaine shipments from Venezuela enter the European Dutch territories via go-fast boats. The distance between Aruba and Venezuela is only 14.3 miles .

From Aruba and Curaçao, cocaine is shipped directly to the Netherlands via sea or air, or it continues its transshipment route to the eastern Caribbean.

The route may include another transshipment point in Haiti due to its lack of port controls, and the cocaine is sometimes later transported by land to the Dominican Republic before it departs for Europe.

The British Territories

The British Overseas Territories also play a role as transshipment points for cocaine.

In November 2020, the British Virgin Islands (BVI) police seized a record 2,353 kilograms of cocaine from the residence of a BVI police officer. This was worth 75 percent of the islands’ entire national budget and was “one of the largest seizures in the history of any British Overseas Territory of the UK.”

Less than two years later, in April 2022, BVI premier Andrew Fahie was  arrested  along with the territory’s ports authority managing director and her son for allegedly smuggling cocaine into the United States.

The drug trade has significantly decreased the region’s stability.

The increased traffic of cocaine in the Caribbean has brought a significant increase in violence and has exacerbated existing corruption in the region.

This corruption and violence have compounded existing gender-based violence, gang activity, and high firearms availability.

Curbing this trade is critical for restoring security across the region.

Europe: The Final Destination

When shipments of cocaine finally reach Europe, there are three primary points of entry. Over 70 percent of the cocaine entering Europe goes through Belgium, the Netherlands, or Spain.

The main methods of transportation are via cargo, sailing, and fishing vessels. Some drugs are trafficked through air transportation, but this is less profitable as the volumes drug traffickers can transport are smaller compared to the amount they can send via maritime routes in shipping containers.

Once the cocaine has reached its destination in Europe, the drugs are collected by drug extractors. In the Netherlands, drug extractors are typically young men often recruited from underprivileged areas and paid around €2,000 per kilogram of cocaine collected. Unless they are actually caught with drugs, they only pay a fine of €100 for trespassing into the port.

Port workers or company employees share container reference codes with these extractors to allow them pick up the drugs from the specific shipping containers.

Containers transporting perishable goods are regularly abused for this purpose, due to their expedited customs timeframe.

Challenges for European Ports

Port and airport security officials attempting to stem the flow of cocaine into Europe must reckon with the continent’s vast number of ports and airports, any of which can be an entry point.

According to a Europol report, European ports handle over 90 million containers each year. However, only 2 to 10 percent can be physically inspected, making the widespread detection of drugs nearly impossible.

Four major ports in particular have seen a dramatic increase in the amount of cocaine being trafficked

The port of Antwerp in Belgium is Europe’s second-largest container port. This port seized 50.1 tonnes (55.2 tons) of cocaine in 2018 and 110 tonnes (121 tons) in 2022, a 119 percent increase, making it the European port with the most seizures in 2022.

The port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands is Europe’s largest port. Rotterdam seized 18.9 tonnes (20.8 tons) of cocaine in 2018 and 50 tonnes (55.1 tons) in 2022, a 164 percent increase.

The port of Valencia in Spain is the fourth-largest port in Europe. Before the emergence of the ports of Antwerp and Rotterdam, Spain had been the main entry point of cocaine arriving from the Andean countries. The port seized 2.59 tonnes (2.85 tons) of cocaine in 2019 and 11.5 tonnes (12.6 tons) in 2022, a 344 percent increase.

The Spanish port of Algeciras is the sixth largest in Europe. 8.7 tonnes (9.5 tons) of cocaine were seized in 2018, but seizures dropped off in subsequent years until rebounding in 2022 when 8.84 tonnes (9.74 tons) were seized. On August 25, 2023, 9.4 tonnes (10.3 tons) of cocaine were seized hidden in a single container loaded with bananas from Ecuador.

An emerging port of concern to law-enforcement officials is Le Havre in France. In 2021, nearly 45 percent of the cocaine entering France transited through that port.

France has also recorded a 554 percent increase in cocaine seizures from 2010 to 2022 . This trend is expected to continue as customs and port security tighten in Belgium and the Netherlands, driving traffickers to France.

For drug traffickers, these ports across Europe present a unique opportunity to increase their monetary gains, extend their influence, and lower operational risk.

Recommendations

Cocaine’s path from South America through the Caribbean to Europe sows destruction and instability at every stage of the journey.

International cooperation is imperative for creating solutions that are both comprehensive and sustainable for all countries involved.

European stakeholders and Caribbean states must create a cohesive counternarcotics strategy.

This should combine Caribbean nations’ understanding of their region with future improvements to interdiction capabilities in Europe.

A Caribbean-European joint strategy should also prioritize strengthening the interdiction capacity of regional organizations like the Caribbean Community Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (CARICOM IMPACS). Additionally, increased cooperation with European overseas territories that serve as a gateway to the continent will be vital.

Finally, public-private sector cooperation among shipping container companies and the governments affected by the drug trade is of utmost importance. Shipping companies should prioritize rigorous employee vetting and regular screening of all port and shipping containers.

The Caribbean’s strategic geography, location, and historical ties make it the perfect link between South America and Europe. However, criminal groups take advantage of these ties to smuggle enormous amounts of cocaine across the Atlantic.

Multiparty cooperation among criminal groups at the local, regional, and international levels has enabled the transatlantic drug trade to flourish. Only equivalent cooperation among European and Caribbean governments and the private sector can begin to effectively counter the flow of cocaine.

Made possible by the generous support of the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement at the U.S. Department of State.

Christopher Hernandez-Roy , Deputy Director and Senior Fellow, Americas Program

Rubi Bledsoe , Program Coordinator, Americas Program

Andrea Michelle Cerén , Intern, Americas Program

iDeas Lab Story Production

Editorial & production by: Sarah B. Grace & Claire Smrt Editorial assistance & research by: Marla Hiller Design by: Sarah B. Grace Maps by: Michael Kohler 3D Animation by: Fabio Murgia Data visualizations by: Michael Kohler & Sarah B. Grace Satellite Imagery Analysis by: Joseph S. Bermudez Jr. & Jennifer Jun Copyediting support by: Katherine Stark & Jeeah Jehanne Lee

Photo Credits

□ Coca farm: Edinson Arroyo/ AFP via Getty Images. □ CARICOM flags: Trinidad Express Newspaper/AFP via Getty Images. □ Bananas : adobestock3d via Adobestock. □ Air conditioning unit: Jack via Adobestock. □ Cardboard boxes on wood pallet: Perig via Adobestock. □ Shipping container: Game Ready via Adobestock.

Established in Washington, D.C., nearly 60 years ago, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) is a bipartisan, nonprofit policy research organization dedicated to advancing practical ideas that address the world’s greatest challenges.

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InSight Crime

INVESTIGATION AND ANALYSIS OF ORGANIZED CRIME

Tusi: The Pink Drug Cocktail That Tricked Latin America

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A string of seizures across Latin America have revealed how “tusi,” a pink synthetic drug powder, is expanding into new countries and increasing its share of the region’s flourishing synthetic drug markets.

In June, tusi consumption was reportedly booming in the nightclubs of Barquisimeto, a city in western Venezuela, while tusi refining laboratories were discovered in Peru and Panama . Uruguay’s government and Costa Rica’s press railed against the drug’s spread just as police in Paraguay made one of their first ever domestic interdictions.

However, for such a widespread substance there was considerable disagreement about what it actually was. In Panama, a police spokesman said tusi was ketamine cut with the pharmaceutical opioid tramadol. In Venezuela, media claimed it was LSD with a dash of MDMA. In Uruguay, the Interior Minister suggested it was a mixture of cocaine, methamphetamine, and LSD.

SEE ALSO: LatAm Synthetic Drug Trade Booming: UNODC Report

In a way, they were all wrong. Tusi, also known as “tusibi” or “pink cocaine,” is not a single substance, nor is it even just a drug cocktail: tusi is a narcotic name brand, said an expert interviewed by InSight Crime. It is the “Coca-Cola” of drugs – an instantly recognizable product of mass merchandizing.

Below, InSight Crime tracks the four major stages of the tusi craze in Latin America.

Medellin, Colombia: Birthplace of Tusi

It began as a phonetic translation. 2C-B was first synthesized by a US chemist in the 1970s, as part of a broader group of hallucinogenic phenethylamines called the 2C family , which includes 2C-C and 2C-D.

These designer drugs created both the euphoria of MDMA and the visual distortions of LSD. Most of them were banned in the 1990s and subsequently fell into obscurity , but 2C-B survived, carving out a niche for itself in European discos.

In the late 2000s, it reached Colombia’s nightclubs, courtesy of rich youngsters in Medellin who had small quantities smuggled from Europe by post, according to an article by El Colombiano. They sold it within their upper-class social circles, mostly as the whitish powder or small pill that 2C-B still comes as today .

It quickly began cultivating attention as an “elite drug,” a synthetic European import far more expensive than the locally produced cocaine that Colombia’s middle and working classes were increasingly using .

This shift was accelerated by a feat of marketing genius. 2C-B powder can look unappealing and is notoriously painful to snort, so some early vendor began mixing their powder with an aromatic pink food coloring.

Not only did it make consumption much more pleasant, but the bright pink color created a striking new visual aesthetic, according to Julián Andrés Quintero, investigative sociologist at Social Technical Action, a Colombian drug policy NGO.

“The food coloring [was important]: this is what gives it its color and smell. [It became] an attractive substance,” he told InSight Crime.

The pink look quickly caught on, causing demand to rapidly increase. According to Julián Quintero, police and media only facilitated this growth when a police officer told an unquestioning journalist about a “pink cocaine” seizure, leading to a sensationalist misnomer that gave the substance even further allure.

SEE ALSO: Colombia Sees Booming Market for Synthetic Drugs at Home and Abroad

Yet, while demand was high, supply remained far too low: even in Europe 2C-B was a niche drug and only a tiny portion of that was reaching South America.

So, Colombian vendors began cutting it heavily, bulking their powder with caffeine and synthetic drugs like MDMA and ketamine, which though also European imports were cheaper and more available.

The chemical combinations differed, but the format was normally the same: a nice-smelling pink powder that contained at least a stimulant (“an upper”) and a depressant (“a downer”). Worldwide, the general term for this is a “speedball.”

Soon enough, the “tusibi” or “tusi” fueling Medellin’s nightlife contained almost no actual 2C-B. To this day, the purity has never recovered, and 2C-B is extremely rare in Latin America, according to a 2021 report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC.)

Expansion Across Colombia

In 2010, a low-level criminal named alias “Alejo” arrived in Bogota. Alejo was one of the first tusi “refiners,” those retailers who dyed 2C-B pink and drowned it with other synthetics in artisanal drug kitchens.

According to a 2012 article by Revista Semana , Alejo started out refining and selling tusi in Medellin, but ran afoul of the city’s hegemonic crime group, the Oficina de Envigado . Forced to flee for his life, he moved to Cali. Once again though, local gangsters sent him packing.

He learnt his lesson the third time, moving to Bogota with the protection of a crime boss named alias “Máquina.” Tusi’s reputation had by now reached the Colombian capital and Alejo was soon dealing five to eight kilograms a week. Tailored towards high-income customers, it wholesaled for up to $43,000 per kilogram, about 33 times more than the equivalent $1300 brick of cocaine.

By 2012, Colombian media were reporting how tusi was now the status drug of the Bogota elite, giving it a healthy publicity boost in the process. Revista Semana, Colombia’s largest weekly magazine, claimed it was a favorite of “models, beauty queens, actors and politicians.”

SEE ALSO: ‘2CB Now Drug of Choice for Colombia Elite’

“It became an object of desire, an aspirational object,” said Julián Quintero. “People believed that by consuming this substance they could belong or appear to belong to elite circles.”

Business was booming for Alejo. But in March 2012, Máquina was arrested and, having lost his criminal protector, Alejo was kidnapped by the Urdinolas, a notorious Cali crime family. They allegedly forced him to reveal his formula and expelled him from the trade for good.

This did nothing to reduce local tusi production. On the contrary, it was growing so much that in 2013, Colombia’s police director responded to the seizure of a few thousand alleged 2C-B capsules by claiming the drug was replacing cocaine.

The following year, authorities in the city of Pereira arrested a leading member of the Machos crime group, a partner of the Urabeños. Having taken over the country’s growing tusi trade from a captured Urdinola boss, investigators believed he was Colombia’s largest distributor of synthetic drugs. Machos-refined tusi was now selling in Bogota, Medellin and Cali, as well as Cartagena and Barranquilla.

But violent competition was never far away. In October 2014, a struggle for control over tusi sales in Cali led to an internal purge in the Urabeños crime group that murdered eight people. One faction had allegedly tried to break away and establish an independent tusi trafficking network, cutting out the other faction.

From Colombia to the World

By 2015, the genie was out of the bottle. That April, US and Colombian authorities arrested 18 members of a synthetic drug trafficking group named “Los Pri,” that used air shipments to traffic tusi to five foreign countries: the US, Panama, Ecuador, Peru and Chile.

SEE ALSO: Synthetic ‘Pink Cocaine’ Crossing from Argentina Into Uruguay

At first, tusi was a new Colombian drug export. Then, it was the Colombian refiners who became the export, teaching dealers across Latin America how to make their cocktail versions, said Julián Quintero.

These early adopters taught others, until a gamechanging realization hit home: that as long as it was pink and powdered, any random combination of locally available drugs could be turned into “tusi.” After all, what was being sold was as much an idea as an experience, Julián Quintero told InSight Crime.

“When it began to be revealed that the substance did not really have 2C-B in it, many people began to make it, to “cook” it as they say,” Julián Quintero told InSight Crime.

In 2016, Spain detained nine people, including several Colombians, for operating two refining laboratories in the greater Madrid region. It appeared the drug was being made with ketamine, cocaine and methamphetamine.

A statement by a Colombian drug testing project, Échele Cabeza, warned that until this point tusi mostly contained ketamine, MDMA and amphetamine. By around 2017 though, a list of increasingly dangerous new psychoactive substances (NPS) began to appear in tusi recipes.

These synthetics now appear regularly: cathinones, opioids, benzodiazepines, and a host of other high-risk substances, said Julián Quintero. In 2021, a gang was even dismantled that put fentanyl into their tusi.

According to Échele Cabeza , dealers convinced consumers that all this was normal, that this “2C-B” drug they were increasingly hearing about in both reggaeton and guaracha music and the mass media was “not a single molecule, but a mixture of different substances.”

In fact, it became accepted that tusi refiners would add an “individual touch” to their product, including various opioids and the psychedelic mescaline, reported France24 in May 2022.

SEE ALSO: Colombia Disbands Transnational Synthetic Drug Ring

Consumers in turn began to ask their dealers for tusi tailored to their personal preferences, notes Quintero. “[Today] people themselves commission the substance. They phone the supplier and say, ‘look, I want a more downer tusi,’ or one that is more stimulating or even a psychedelic one,” he told InSight Crime.

The Post-Millennial Drug

Since 2017, tusi has therefore democratized, going from the fanciest nightclubs to the toughest streets. In 2012, tusi retailed at $71 per gram; as of mid-2022, it sells in Colombia for under $10 per gram, according to Julián Quintero.

This loss of exclusivity has put off some of the drug’s richer users but has been more than compensated by the growth in middle- and working-class consumers, Quintero told InSight Crime.

As of mid-2022, besides Colombia, tusi is popular in the Southern Cone countries of Chile , Argentina and Uruguay , as well as Spain and Panama . InSight Crime open source research has also identified credible media reports of tusi in Mexico , Costa Rica , Venezuela , Peru , Bolivia and Paraguay .

The brand has somewhat evolved with the appearance of tusi in other colours, including green and yellow. However, its consumption in Colombia – and possibly across the region – is thought to still be increasing.

“It’s a very millennial drug, very post-millenial as well,” Julián Quintero told InSight Crime. “I consider it the great ‘merchandising’ product of drugs in Colombia and [maybe even] in Latin America and the world.”

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Most Dangerous Cities in South America: Crime Rates and Statistics

South America is a region known for its diverse cultures, stunning landscapes, and vibrant cities . However, some cities in South America are plagued by high levels of crime and violence , making them dangerous places to live or visit. In this article, we will explore the most dangerous cities in South America based on crime statistics and expert analysis.

According to a study by the Mexican think tank , the Citizen Council for Public Security and Criminal Justice, Caracas, Venezuela , is the most dangerous city in South America. With a murder rate of 130.35 per 100,000 inhabitants, Caracas also ranks as the most dangerous city in the world. Other cities in South America that made the list of the top 50 most dangerous cities in the world include Acapulco, Mexico; Natal, Brazil; and Fortaleza, Brazil.

The high levels of crime in these cities can be attributed to a variety of factors, including poverty, political instability, drug trafficking, and gang violence. Despite efforts by local authorities to curb crime rates, many of these cities continue to struggle with high levels of violence and crime. It is important for travelers to exercise caution and be aware of their surroundings when visiting these cities, and for local authorities to continue working towards making their cities safer for residents and visitors alike.

Most Dangerous Cities in South America

Understanding crime rates in south america, top 5 most dangerous cities, factors contributing to high crime rates, safety tips for travelers.

South America is a diverse continent, with a rich cultural heritage and a complex geopolitical landscape. Unfortunately, it is also known for its high crime rates, with many cities ranking among the most dangerous in the world. Understanding the factors that contribute to crime rates in South America can help visitors and residents alike to stay safe and avoid dangerous situations.

One of the primary drivers of crime in South America is poverty. Many of the most dangerous cities in the region are also some of the poorest, with high levels of unemployment and limited access to education and healthcare. This can lead to a sense of hopelessness and desperation among residents, which in turn can fuel criminal activity.

Another factor that contributes to crime rates in South America is political instability. Many countries in the region have experienced periods of political turmoil and violence , which can create an environment of lawlessness and chaos. This can make it difficult for law enforcement agencies to maintain order and prevent criminal activity.

Drug trafficking is also a major issue in South America , particularly in countries like Colombia and Brazil. Drug cartels often operate with impunity, using violence and intimidation to maintain their power and influence. This can lead to high levels of violence and crime in areas where drug trafficking is prevalent.

Overall, crime rates in South America are a complex issue that is influenced by a variety of economic, political, and social factors. Visitors to the region should be aware of the risks and take steps to stay safe, such as avoiding high-crime areas and staying vigilant in public.

South America is known for its beautiful landscapes, vibrant culture, and friendly people. However, some cities in the region are known for their high crime rates, which can pose a risk to travelers and locals alike. Here are the top 5 most dangerous cities in South America:

Caracas, Venezuela

Caracas, officially  Santiago de León de Caracas  ( CCS ), is the capital and largest city of  Venezuela , and the center of the  Metropolitan Region of Caracas . Caracas is located along the  Guaire River  in the northern part of the country, within the Caracas Valley of the Venezuelan coastal mountain range.

Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, is known for its high levels of crime, including robbery, kidnapping, and murder. According to World Atlas , Caracas has a murder rate of 130.35 per 100,000 inhabitants, making it the most dangerous city in South America and the world. The city’s economic and political instability, along with its high poverty rates, contribute to the high levels of violence.

Acapulco, Mexico

Acapulco de Juárez , commonly called  Acapulco, Guerrero  is a city and major seaport in the state of  Guerrero  on the Pacific Coast of Mexico, 240 miles south of  Mexico City .

Acapulco, a popular tourist destination in Mexico, has been plagued by violence in recent years. According to Travel Safe , the city has a high crime rate, including robbery, assault, and homicide. Acapulco’s drug trade and gang violence are major contributors to its high levels of crime.

San Salvador, El Salvador

San Salvador  is the capital and the largest city of  El Salvador  and its eponymous department. It is the country’s political, cultural, educational and financial center. 

San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador , is known for its high levels of gang violence. According to Travel Safe, the city has a high crime rate, including robbery, assault, and homicide. The city’s poverty and political instability have contributed to its high levels of violence.

San Pedro Sula, Honduras

San Pedro Sula  is the capital of Cortés Department,  Honduras . It is located in the northwest corner of the country in the Sula Valley, about 31 miles south of  Puerto Cortés  on the  Caribbean Sea . 

San Pedro Sula, the second-largest city in Honduras, has a high crime rate, including robbery, assault, and homicide. According to Travel Safe , the city is known for its gang violence and drug trafficking. The city’s poverty and political instability have also contributed to its high levels of violence.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Rio de Janeiro , or simply  Rio , is the capital of the state of Rio de Janeiro . It is the second-most-populous city in  Brazil  (after  São Paulo ) and the sixth-most-populous city in the Americas.

Rio de Janeiro, a popular tourist destination in Brazil, has a high crime rate, including robbery, assault, and homicide. According to Travel Safe , the city is known for its gang violence and drug trafficking. The city’s poverty and political instability have also contributed to its high levels of violence.

South America is known for its high crime rates, and there are several factors that contribute to this issue. In this section, we will discuss some of the most significant factors that contribute to high crime rates in South America.

Economic Instability

One of the primary factors contributing to high crime rates in South America is economic instability. Poverty and unemployment rates are high in many areas of the continent, which can lead to desperation and criminal activity. In addition, economic instability can lead to political unrest, which can further exacerbate the problem of crime.

Drug Trafficking

Drug trafficking is another significant factor contributing to high crime rates in South America. Many countries in the region are major producers and exporters of illegal drugs, and drug-related violence is a common occurrence. Drug trafficking organizations often engage in violent conflicts with each other and with law enforcement agencies, leading to high levels of crime and insecurity.

Gang Violence

Gang violence is also a significant contributor to high crime rates in South America. Gangs often control certain areas of cities and engage in criminal activities such as drug trafficking, extortion, and robbery. Gangs are also responsible for much of the violence in the region, including homicides and assaults.

Political Corruption

Finally, political corruption is a significant factor contributing to high crime rates in South America. Corruption can lead to a lack of trust in law enforcement agencies and the justice system, which can make it difficult to combat crime effectively. In addition, corrupt officials may be involved in criminal activities themselves, which can further exacerbate the problem of crime.

South America can be a beautiful and exciting place to visit, but it’s important to take precautions to ensure your safety. Here are some safety tips for travelers to keep in mind:

• Research the area you plan to visit : Before you go, research the area you plan to visit and make sure you are aware of any potential dangers. Check for travel advisories and warnings from your government, as well as local news sources to stay informed.
• Be aware of your surroundings : Keep an eye on your surroundings at all times and be aware of any suspicious behavior. Avoid walking alone at night, especially in areas that are unfamiliar to you.
• Stay in well-lit areas : Stick to well-lit areas and avoid dark alleys or side streets. If you’re traveling by car, make sure to park in well-lit areas as well.
• Avoid carrying large sums of cash : Try to avoid carrying large sums of cash on you. Instead, use credit cards or traveler’s checks. If you do need to carry cash, keep it in a secure money belt or pouch.
• Don’t flash expensive items : Avoid flashing expensive items like jewelry, cameras, or smartphones. This can make you a target for thieves. Keep these items hidden away when you’re not using them.
• Be cautious of strangers : Be cautious of strangers who approach you, especially if they seem overly friendly or pushy. Don’t accept food or drinks from strangers, and never leave your drink unattended.
• Use reliable transportation : Use reliable transportation services, such as licensed taxis or ride-sharing apps. Avoid using unmarked taxis or accepting rides from strangers.

By following these safety tips, travelers can reduce their risk of becoming victims of crime while visiting South America. However, it’s important to remember that no place is completely free of danger, and travelers should always use common sense and exercise caution.

The Big Book of Safety: 32 tips for safe travel in South America

Sometimes, I use affiliate/sponsored links with my recommendations, which if bought through might earn me a few pennies at absolutely no extra cost to you . This helps with the cost of keeping this site alive so I can continue to guide you on your travels. Please remember that I would never ever ever recommend anything I don’t or wouldn’t use myself. Big thanks to each and every one of you who have trusted my recommendations so far! Lozzy x

Thanks to various reputational blows and scary news headlines, people don’t expect to find safe travel in South America easy. When I first left the UK, my parents’ biggest concern was that I was going to end up coerced into some drugs ring somewhere, not to be seen until I ended up on the 10 o’clock news having been caught for trying to smuggle cocaine through an international airport in my knickers.

LUCKILY, they were just being bloody ridiculous, and across my 19 months in South America (plus a further 7 months in Central America) the most troubling crime I ever encountered was that time that I  was wrongly accused of stealing cash from a girl in my hostel in Rosario . Still bitter.

My parents did have some semblance of a point, though. Crime follows poverty, and there’s no skirting around the fact that South America has an awful lot of poverty. Even the nicest of you would get caught up in a tangle of mishaps if it was the only way to feed your family.

It’s easy to have a burning hatred for criminals, but the more you see what some people call ‘home’ and learn about the institutional and societal forces that completely stunt upwards social mobility in certain communities, you may find yourself taking a softer stance.

Anyway, I’m not here to excuse criminal activity, I’m here to give you lots and lots of helpful tips for safe travel in South America! The below advice (consisting of basic 101s, petty crime, violent crime, financial and transport safety tips) will hopefully greatly reduce your risk of falling foul of common issues in the region.

There’s a huge amount of socioeconomic, cultural and geographic diversity across South America which affects what you need to be looking out for, but it’s easy to adapt as you pick up tips from new people along your journey.

After this guide to safe travel in South America, you may also enjoy reading:

• Top 10 safest Latin American countries to travel to in 2021
• 50+ bits of know-how for backpacking in South America
• Staying safe and comfortable on night buses in South America

This all being said, please don’t let this information scare you. I like to have a ‘pase lo que pase/what happens, happens’ view to stumbling my way around South America, and I know that I wouldn’t enjoy myself half as much if I spent my time constantly worried about all the bad things that  could  occur.

Yes, there are risks, but with each day that you travel, the below tips for safe travel in South America will become more and more engrained in your way of life as second nature, until you don’t even realise you’re employing them. Stick to the safest countries in Latin America , and you’ll have even more chances of keeping secure.

But honestly, chill. You’re gonna be fine!

You can download these 32 tips for safe travel in South America as an e-book to carry around with you if you subscribe to my mailing list, here .

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Basic tips for safe travel in South America

If you do nothing else, make sure to master these basic bits of advice for enjoyable and safe travel in South America!

1. Trust your gut

This tip for safe travel in South America HAD to come first. Humans have evolved to subconsciously pick up behavioural micro-cues, so your gut actually tends to be a pretty good indicator of a situation.

I think a lot of us feel obligated to suffer through certain circumstances in order to remain polite, but you should never feel too embarrassed to walk out of an uncomfortable place, sale or conversation when your gut is screaming blue murder at you.

2. Agree on your price beforehand for everything

EEEEVERYTHING. Be very clear about what you’re paying, and for what. Unless you also see locals paying upfront too, don’t pay until you have received the full service.

If you’re feeling uneasy, ask for a receipt ( recibo in both Spanish and Portuguese).

3. Book at least one night of accommodation in a new city

As if long journeys between cities weren’t enough, looking for accommodation around a new destination with all your valuables on your back and clearly no idea where you’re going is not a great start to safe travel in South America.

Always book at least your first night, then you know where to head to from your transport terminal, and you won’t be caught aimlessly wandering the streets of a random neighbourhood. If you love it, stay another few nights, and if it’s grim, you can still be a free-spirited backpacker and play your next move by ear now that you’ve had a chance to see what the city offers.

4. Never let your stuff out of your sight

You’d be surprised how quickly your things can go walkies when you leave them alone out of your view. I’m assuming you’ll be travelling with a larger backpack for clothes (ladies, here’s my review of the Osprey Auro 50L backpack !) and a smaller rucksack for your valuables, like I do. Your larger backpack should be heavy enough to deter most people, but they might still have a fumble for goodies inside.

If you’re trying to ensure safe travel in South America without a well-trusted buddy, your smaller bag needs to accompany you everywhere until you can lock it up somewhere secure.

5. Listen to the locals

Locals have spent their whole lives getting to know their hometown like the back of their hands, so when they tell you not to go down certain streets or behave in certain ways, make sure you listen to them.

Locals are definitely some of the best sources of info for safe travel in South America, and in lots of destinations we came across strangers who were compassionate enough to take time out of their own day to give advice to tourists they’d seen making rookie safety mistakes.

6. Remember that other travellers are just as much of a risk

Going to developing countries, I think a lot of travellers assume that their only threat is poor local people who are desperate or morally void in some way (yes, some people really think that). However, of the crime I’ve heard about or witnessed in South America, a significant proportion has actually been committed by other backpackers – mostly petty theft from empty hostel dorms.

While I don’t want you to spend the entirety of South America trip on-edge, don’t let your guard down when you arrive at your accommodation just because you’re back to being around people who look or sound like you.

7. Healthcare in South America can be cheap, but travel insurance is still a must

Accidents happen, even to the most healthy of backpackers, and you really want to be prepared for any wallops that come your way.

Mine and Andy’s long-term backpacking travel insurance saved us about £1200 in the first year of backpacking in South America alone. We found them very quick and easy to work through a claim with, plus they allowed us to purchase a long-term policy without being in our home country at that time, which surprisingly few travel insurance companies do.

8. A little lingo goes a long way

Knowing just a teeny bit can help you communicate to locals what help you need, and can solidify trust if they see that you’re at least trying to learn their language.

If you want to go further to ensure safe travel in South America, I highly recommend spending some time at a school in one of the best destinations to learn Spanish , or at the very least pick up a Spanish phrases CD or book .

9. Make sure someone out there knows where you’re going

Even if it’s just the girl who sits on the reception desk of your hostel or your grandma on WhatsApp, make sure someone has some clue as to where you’re off to each day, especially if you’re on your own.

They’ll have a lot better idea of when to start looking on the rare occasion that you end up going missing.

Fend off petty crime for safe travel in South America

10. stay alert for safe south america travel.

Keep your wits about you. Ask the hostel in any new destination to let you know of any scams , areas or tour companies to avoid.

Of course, let your hair down, but always know who’s around you, where you are and never ever ever let your stuff out of your sight.

Professional pickpockets are quiiiiiiiick, and you probably won’t even realise you’ve lost anything for a fair while.

11. Know your surroundings

One of the easiest ways to label yourself as a target in destinations known for petty theft is to wander around looking like you don’t have the foggiest idea of where you are or where you’re trying to go.

Know your barrios (there are places you need to avoid in every city in the world, including your own hometown), check maps before you head out, and walk as though you have at least an indication of what you’re doing.

12. Keep your passport in your hostel

I’m not really sure why so many people are adamant on taking their passport out with them day-to-day. I don’t even trust myself to do that in England without losing it immediately.

Well-rated hostels in South America are generally pretty trust-worthy, and you should only be staying in accommodation that provides some form of locker. In some hostels and hotels, they will ask you to put your passport behind the reception desk until you leave. Don’t panic, this is due to local laws and they will keep it in a lockbox.

Bring a drivers license to use as ID, and print some passport copies if you’re worried you may need it out and about (apart from vehicle hire and longer transport journeys, you won’t).

13. Pack a decoy

In certain cities and when travelling by night bus, I got into the habit of taking a small handbag as a decoy, so thieves focused on that instead of the actual valuables in my small rucksack. Andy took a decoy wallet with a few unused cards and coins, and we both had old crappy phones to take on nights out.

We only felt the need to do this in cities where stealing from tourists is rife, like Rio de Janeiro (check out Rio de Janeiro’s safest neighbourhoods here to minimise your risk).

Just make sure the bag or wallet isn’t completely empty if you’re using it as a mugging decoy (i.e. to roam a city at night vs just passing through a bus terminal where the threat is more of pickpockets). You don’t want to put yourself in even more danger if muggers have time to check the contents.

14. Only book hostels that offer lockers

In this day and age, you’d be surprised by how many hostels think they can save a few pesos by not providing a few metal boxes in the corner.

Luckily, Hostelworld and Booking.com will always let you know if lockers are on offer in a given hostel. Also, they should definitely be free.

Even hostels like this with no window panes provide lockers:

15. Bring a heavy duty combination padlock for your hostel

By heavy duty, this doesn’t necessarily mean ‘thick’, as some of the locker loops can be small. But make sure your lock isn’t flimsy, as it doesn’t take much for someone to cut through them. This padlock would be perfect.

Even in private rooms, you should use any locker provided. I learnt this the hard way when we had £100 in cash stolen from a private room in Torotoro, Bolivia .

16. Don’t be flashy

As the Colombians say, ‘no dar papaya’, and as my dad would say, ‘don’t be a flashy git’. In short, if you ‘give papaya’, someone will see your papaya, want your papaya and take your papaya. This can’t happen if they never know your papaya exists. For the purposes of safe travel in South America, papaya is your cash, your watch, your phone, even your nice trainers.

I didn’t want to use my auntie to make a point, but here she is providing an excellent example of giving papaya in San Gil, Colombia that I just can’t let up:

17. Dress to blend in

I get it, some of you are going to stand out just through simple genetics. However, leaving the belt wallet and bumbag at home can take you from looking like an easy target to a well-seasoned travel pro who has their wits about them, therefore making your South America travel safer by a mile.

Look around at how the locals dress and try to mimic it (though obviously don’t step out of the boundaries of what would be culturally appropriate for you – no one needs to see a gaggle of Kiwi dudes in cholita dresses. Or maybe they do. Maybe that is exactly what this world needs?!).

Protect yourself against sticky situations

18. muggings aren’t common, but if it happens just give up everything.

Yes, even your laptop. And your passport. Your life is worth more, and there’s really nothing your embassy and backpacker travel insurance can’t sort out. You’ll have to deal with the administrative hassle and perhaps attack on your ego, but that’s really a much better result than you receiving stitches for a stab wound in an over-packed A&E ward.

The truth is that there are many desperate people in this region, so you never really know the lengths they will go to in order to feed their family or survive life in a brutal gang.

19. Protests are a normal part of South American life, but steer clear

There’s a fair bit of political unrest in various pockets of South America at the moment, so it’s not unusual to find yourself in and amongst a protest or two. These rarely turn violent, but it’s always best to stay away.

As long as you avoid protests, at most you’ll probably just experience a few travel delays as a result. Keep plans flexible when you’re around a city that has had some civil unrest, and keep up-to-date with the local news.

Here’s one of the times our Bolivian bus stopped several miles outside the city and we had to walk the rest of the way. Funsies.

20. Keep an eye on your drinks

Ladies, I’m sure most of you will already be vigilant with watching your drinks in public due to date rape fears anywhere in the world. However, men may not have gotten into such habits due to their much lower risk back home, and therefore get double-whammied when their drink is spiked with scopolamine and they wake up dazed in an empty apartment with their bank accounts wiped.

This drug comes from a plant, and is used mainly (but not exclusively) in Colombia. It’s like a truth serum that turns you into a fully-functioning zombie with complete compliance. This allows thieves (often in the form of stunning women) to ask you all your bank details with no fuss, and to get your help in moving all of your stuff into their car. Be wary!

21. Be super-careful around drugs in South America

If there’s one thing worse than going to prison for 15 years, it’s going to Ecuadorian prison for 15 years. In addition to this, gringos arranging to buy drugs is one of the key ways that criminal gangs know who to target for theft.

Look, I know a huge draw of South America is the high quality and low price of the cocaine, but you need to be cautious in terms of whether you can trust your source, whether you can keep it quiet and whether you’re dosing to allow for the fact that the strength of this stuff will be mind-blowing compared to what’s available at home. You don’t want to be waking up in a hospital bed any more than you do a police cell.

Here’s me, not actually on drugs, but possibly surrounded by them. Sneaky drugs.

How to be financially-smart when you travel

22. carry less cash.

This is all about minimising your damage. If you do get robbed – or even just lose your purse because like me, you’re effing useless – let’s at least make sure you don’t lose your entire life’s savings in one pop.

Only carry as much cash as you need for the day, and use card payments as much as possible.

23. Don’t have everything on one card

Just as you should limit the damage that can be done if your cash gets stolen, you should also limit the damage that can be done if your card gets stolen.

Use a travel card (you’ll see why I recommend a Revolut card below), and load it up by just $150 or so at a time. You don’t want thieves having access to your entire savings if they get their hands on your main bank card.

24. Keep a second wallet

Now, this isn’t a decoy wallet, it’s a savings wallet to keep a safe stash if you’re going to a place that will have poor access to ATMs or is unlikely to accept card payments.

Each morning, you transfer one day’s worth of cash into the wallet you take out, then put your second wallet into your locker.

Again, damage control if stolen, but also a smart measure to take if you’re just very loss-prone (me, basically).

25. Don’t get robbed by bank fees

See what I did there . Using a regular bank card will likely result in long lists of ATM transaction fees, bank admin fees and foreign exchange commissions that RACK UP.

Get yourself a free Revolut card and use my list of ATMs in South America that give free cash withdrawals , and you’ll be laughing.

26. Use shopping centre ATMs where possible

Avoid street ATMs to take out cash as much as you can (though of course sometimes you just don’t have any choice). Where possible, try to instead find a cash point in a place with bright lights and security guards, like a shopping mall.

Alternatively, your next best option is an ATM room which you’ll see outside banks or at random points between shops, but avoid using these alone or at night as people may loiter outside for when you come out.

27. Never let your card out of your sight

If someone claims their card machine is in a different room, insist they bring it out to you, or let you follow them into said room.

Don’t make the same mistake Andy and I made in Argentina when our card got cloned – potentially in a pretty upmarket restaurant.

Ensure safe travel in South America on public transport

28. be careful of unlicensed taxis (and tours).

Unregulated taxis and tours can lead to all sorts of issues – lack of fair pricing, disregard for safety and unaccountability if you need to report something troubling.

This problem is especially prominent with Buenos Aires taxis – aim to get a RadioTaxi instead of hailing a random yellow car.

Most cities have reputable taxi apps where you can pay in-app; Uber is available in the places that haven’t yet managed to outlaw it, but you can also try out Cabify, 99 Easy Taxi or Beat.

29. Keep belongings tied up between your feet on public transport

Did I tell you of the guy who had his entire 30L backpack – plus the shoes he’d taken off – stolen from him while he slept on a bus?! Well, I’m telling you now. Passport, laptop, clothes, all gone.

Obviously, at some point during an over-night journey, you’re going to need to sleep, but ensure first that everything you own is tucked way out of others’ reach (thieves aren’t against squeezing sneaky fingers round the side or underneath your seat), and that bags are tied to you by a strap.

I even had a jacket pulled out from under my seat on what must have been Quito’s rainiest day in goddamn history. Enjoyed losing that.

Although between your feet isn’t perfect, you are far safer putting small bags there than up in the luggage rack above your head. Staying safe and comfortable on night buses in South America will provide some more info for you!

30. Don’t pack valuables in the top of your backpack

You shouldn’t be putting many valuables in your big backpack anyway as you can’t always have it in sight, but for some things – such as your second wallet, where the whole point is to have a back-up if your actual valuables get stolen – it does make sense whilst travelling between destinations.

Make sure these valuables are wrapped up right in the middle of your backpack contents, so a sleight hand will pick up nothing more than a wad of your dirty underwear. ‘at’ll learn ’em.

31. Know when the last bus leaves

And don’t end up like me, stuck in a closing bus station on the wrong side of a large city, unable to flag a taxi or book anything on Booking.com before the next day, realising the only option is to follow a lady holding a cardboard ‘HOSTAL’ sign and pay to sleep in her basement with locks on the outside of my door. That was a fun night.

Moral of the story is, always know when the last bus leaves, and if worried, ask someone to point you to where your bus will be pulling in so you don’t miss it.

32. Don’t arrive too late in a new city

Public transport doesn’t run at all hours, even in lots of the capital cities, so try and plan your night bus or flight to arrive at a time when you’ll be able to get a transfer to your accommodation.

Having to sit around a terminal with all your bags at 5am is not the one, and it’s not the most recommended situation for safe travel in South America.

Now you’ve reached the end of this guide to safe travel in South America, you may also enjoy reading:

• 11 tricks & scams in South America

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Last Updated on 1 April 2023 by Cuppa to Copa Travels

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Breaking news, why aaron rodgers went on a ‘very different’ psychedelic trip this offseason.

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Aaron Rodgers recently opened up about his trip to Peru in 2020 and use of ayahuasca – a psychoactive brew that contains the hallucinogenic DMT – though this wasn’t the only time the reigning MVP experimented with the drug.

Rodgers informed NBC Sports’ Peter King that he first learned of the plant-based concoction, which has been used for thousands of years in self-awareness healing rituals in Central and South America, from a friend who tried the drug a year prior.

“I have a dear friend that I’ve known for 25 years that went on an ayahuasca journey in 2019,” Rodgers said. “He came back, and we played golf one day and he told me all about it. I said, ‘Okay, I think it’s time that I do it.’ So we put together a trip to Peru [in 2020] and had a great experience.” 

Following the eye-opening experience, Rodgers returned to Peru to partake in the ceremony once more. 

“Then I went again this offseason and had another beautiful experience,” Rodgers said. “[It was] different, very different. Different size group, different amount of days.”

This time around, he entered the ritual looking to mend his broken relationships.

“We sat three different nights with the medicine. I came in with an intention of doing a lot of healing of other relationships and bringing in certain people to have conversations with. Most of the work was around myself and figuring out what unconditional love of myself looks like.

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“I’ve got to be a little more gentle with myself and compassionate and forgiving because I’ve had some negative voices, negative self-talk, for a long time. A lot of healing went on.”

Rodgers explained how the ayahuasca trip changed his life.

“I think it’s unlocked a lot of my heart,” he said. “Being able to fully give my heart to my teammates, my loved ones, relationships because I can fully embrace unconditionally myself. Just didn’t do that for a long time. I was very self-critical. 

“When you have so much judgment on yourself it’s easy to transfer that judgment to other people. When you figure out a better way to love yourself, I think you can love people better because you’re not casting the same judgment you cast on yourself on other people. I’m really thankful for that.”

Though his second psychedelic journey did not directly pertain to his touchy relationship with his estranged family , Rodgers asserted the self-love he now has could lead to a reconciliation.

“I really felt like I wanted to surrender and open up to the medicine for some healing to come through and some direction on how to kind of go about that,” Rodgers said of the rift he has with his family. “And it didn’t. It didn’t necessarily. 

“The big message was unconditionally loving myself is the key to being able to heal all relationships—with them, past relationships with lovers, whatever it might be…So that gives me a lot of hope in healing at some point. 

“There was nothing specific that came through in my three nights of journey, per se, but it was everything to learn how to love myself better because every relationship is changed from that standpoint. Including the way I look at them [family members] and the hope I have for reconciliation at some point.”

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South America & Drugs: What Are the Main Problems, and Where?

This article details the situation with drugs like opioids, cannabis, amphetamine, and cocaine in South America

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We’re all aware of the opioid issue currently ravaging America, Canada, and beyond. How does this affect the countries of South America? And what other drug issues go on in that region? A recent report highlights South America, and the drugs within, including which drugs are most problematic of the following: amphetamines, cannabis, cocaine, and opioids; and where these problems occur.

What report?

The report , called Burden of disease due to amphetamines, cannabis, cocaine, and opioid use disorders in South America, 1990–2019: a systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019, was published in January, 2023, in The Lancet Psychiatry. As per the name, the paper seeks to investigate the “burden of disease attributable to amphetamine use disorder, cannabis use disorder (CAD), cocaine use disorder, and opioid use disorder (OUD) in South America from 1990 to 2019, on the basis of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019.”

In order to gather and assess this information on South America and the main drugs of use, the investigators used data from the Global Burden of Disease 2019, only, to estimate these measuring points in connection to the above mentioned use disorders: “incidence, prevalence, mortality, years of life lost (YLL), years of life lived with disability (YLD), and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) due to substance use disorders.”

The report looks at the12 countries on the continent of South America for drugs issues: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela. The collected data went through modelling by use of standardized tools, like the “Cause of Death Ensemble model, spatio-temporal Gaussian process regression, and disease modelling meta-regression.”

Thanks for being here. We’ve got the Cannadelics Weekly Newsletter to provide email updates; and which comes with a bunch of cool offers for cannabis buds, vapes and other equipment, edibles, smoking paraphernalia, cannabinoid compounds, and a wide selection more. We’ve got all the good stuff here!

Estimates were created from the data for the different aforementioned categories; with breakdowns for sex of users, location, and the years of use. It makes comparisons by gender, location, and year; as well as regional and global approximations. Obviously, not every Latin American country is involved, meaning Mexico, the countries of Central America, and island nations are not included in this examination.

Findings of the report about South America and drugs

Amphetamine

According to the 2019 data, Peru has the highest prevalence of amphetamine use disorder per 100,000 people in terms of DALY numbers. When looking at years of life living with the disability (YLD), amphetamine rates were stable for the most part in the 10-year period, showing the highest numbers in Peru, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Paraguay showed some of the highest levels of the drug disorder.

The countries with the highest amphetamine use disorder rates in terms of overall years of life lost (YLL) per 100,000 during the given time period, were Suriname and Peru. In the former this rate increased from 2010 to 2019, while in the latter, it did show a decrease within those same years.

Some countries did show decreases in the annual presence of use disorders related to this drug during the given time period. These include: Venezuela, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Chile, and Surinam. If you’ll notice, Peru and Surinam, which have some of the bigger issues with the drug, also have a decrease in numbers, indicating a lessening of the issue.

When it came to cannabis use disorder DALY information, there was a stable rate in South America between 1990-2019; with the exceptions of both Chile and Colombia. These two countries had the highest rates in 2019, for DALY numbers.

In terms of years lived with the disorder, cannabis rates retained stability in all included countries except Chile and Colombia. The highest rates of CAD were in Chile, Colombia, Guyana, and Suriname. However, there was no YLL scores, implying cannabis of all the drugs, was not associated with years lost.

Countries that saw a decrease in cannabis use disorder annually during this time, were Venezuela, Brazil, and Uruguay. It was pointed out by the authors that there was no increase in burden from CAD in Uruguay, the only country within this region to allow recreational use.

At Your Own Risk: Top 5 Death Toll Drugs

Opioid use disorder numbers increased per 100,000 between 2009-2019 in both Brazil and Peru. In 2019, those countries had the highest rates on the continent; 82 and 70, respectively in terms of DALY numbers.

YLD rates for opioids did increase in most of the South American countries, but went up the highest amount in Brazil. In Brazil, YLD rates went from 52 to 80, between the years 1990-2019. It had the highest rise of South America.

For opioids, the highest YLL rates belonged to Chile and Uruguay between 2000-2019. The former scored 11·6, while the latter came in at 10·9. Though Ecuador also showed very high rates for opioid use disorder in general.

Countries that saw an annual decrease in OUD, were Venezuela and Bolivia. Overall, while OUD showed up less than other substance abuse disorders, it showed the highest amount of burden of any drug for those who were classified with the disorder. That makes sense as opioids cause the largest death rate, pretty much anywhere there’s an industry.

The 2019 numbers show it was Brazil with the highest levels of cocaine use disorder, with a DALY rate of 45 per 100,000. This is nearly a full double from 1990 numbers.

In terms of YLD rates, the four countries with the highest amounts, were Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, and Brazil; which all saw increases between 1990-2010, but then a decrease from 2010-2019. Overall, Argentina was a hot spot for cocaine use disorder.

For YLL rates related to cocaine use disorder, Brazil had the highest scores. And the numbers for that country greatly increased between 1990-2019, going from 3·7 to 18·1.

For countries that showed an annual decrease in use disorders for this drug, there were Colombia and Peru. Overall, the burden of cocaine use disorder decreased over time.

Sao Miguel: The Rise and Fall of Cocaine Island

When looking at male vs female, DALY numbers were consistently higher for men for each drug use disorder, and for all locations, except Paraguay. In totality, men caused more burden through use than females, with the biggest differences in use with cocaine and cannabis. Though males still caused more burden with amphetamine use disorders, the difference between the two was smaller. When it came to opioids, the rates were the same

For both genders, opioids caused the highest rate DALYs. The only exceptions for this were Argentina, which had higher DALY rates for cocaine use disorder in males; and in Paraguay, where among females, amphetamine use damage was higher.

Cannabis use disorder DALY rates were the lowest in all locations, for both men and women.

Does this report have conflicts of interest?

Well, for one thing, the entire study was funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The Gates foundation is actually a private organization that doesn’t have to please anything or anyone but the three trustees of the company, Bill Gates, his wife Melinda, and Warren Buffet. The terms ‘non-profit’ and ‘not-for-profit’ are actually a little confusing here; and while most tend to think such organizations aren’t privately funded, and privately held; this is mistaken.

This foundation doesn’t need any kind of public approval, or to show that its making progress. The IRS can’t do much, and there’s no way to know how tax-exempt funds are used, or if there are conflicts of interest in research. The Gates Foundation is known for doing all kinds of things in third world countries, and a lot of it isn’t very good . As this study focuses primarily on third world countries, and the organization has so many dealings in such places, this entire study could be nothing more than a marketing ploy to get involved.

Then consider what’s actually being measured – use disorders. Should we really consider cannabis a use disorder if it doesn’t show damage in DALY scores or years lost? Has cannabis been fingered for ruining lives? And for that matter, all of these ‘disorders’ have no medical definition or diagnosis. Meaning, it’s a doctor who decides if someone fits a classification, and this means going on personal opinion, which can vary greatly between doctors. What if a doctor simply doesn’t like weed? Then maybe recreational use, gets diagnosed as a use disorder. Use, and use disorder are two separate things. Any research based off psychiatric diagnoses without a medical reference, should be questioned in my opinion.

The study ended by saying “Programmes for amphetamine use disorder, CAD, and OUD management should be improved.” If cannabis isn’t hurting anyone, and is seeing a lessening of restriction all over the world, do we need to worry about systems to deal with it? That sentence puts cannabis in a category with opioids, the drugs that take out close to a 100,000 people a year in the US. That’s putting together one drug which has shown few-to-no negative consequences (and positive benefits), with the drugs that cause the most damage; and then saying they need comparable measures for monitoring and control.

Record High Opioid Deaths For a Record Low in America

In fact, the report goes on to say, “Countries in South America should improve monitoring of substance use disorders, including regular surveys to provide more accurate data on which to base policy decisions.” Isn’t that the kind of thing the Gates Foundation loves doing? Looking for problems and setting up programs for the misfortunate in third world countries? And hasn’t the third world suffered enough from the ‘advice’ and interference of rich American entities?

Let’s not forget that Bill Gates was one of the biggest pushers of vaccines for covid-19; and while I don’t care to get into opinions on vaccines, there is a point, which should never be forsaken. Gates was pushing a Johnson & Johnson vaccines, as in, the same company that has the biggest payouts to make from global opioid lawsuits , accounting for multi-billions and counting. Whether you agree with vaccines or not isn’t the point, not paying attention to this essential risk-assessment is dangerous at its very best.

Why would anyone take a medication from a company that has so clearly and repeatedly shown its lack of regard for humanity? If you’re super into pharmaceuticals, this probably won’t get through to you, but its actually not a statement on vaccines, but on being able to trust the companies that make them. And that is a big deal, especially in light of the opioid lawsuits. The Gates Foundation had no problem with this conflict of interest. And while the same can technically be said for people taking the vaccine, the reality, is that very few understand this connection. I have yet to find one vaccinated person who does. But Bill Gates and his foundation, absolutely do.

So how accurate is this research? It’s hard to say. A report like this could be used for the foundation itself to set up shop in some areas. Or maybe it’s an honest look at drugs in South America. The issue of integrity in research , both related to cannabis and beyond, is not to be ignored; so just because a study comes out, doesn’t mean for a second that it shouldn’t be questioned.

Plus, as long as cannabis is included, and put in the same category as opioids, information is automatically off. This has never made sense, and won’t ever. And for those that keep classifying it this way, do we really want their opinions on issues of drug use disorders, or anything else? In fact, the biggest takeaway of this entire study, is that while amphetamine and cocaine have gone down in their damage overall, and cannabis never caused anything substantial, the one big thing, is the rise of opioid use. All over the continent. And that’s an American pharmaceutical-company started issue, that’s now spread to South America.

Drug use damage certainly exist, but its not the same thing for all drugs, even if the same terminology is applied. While this paper is interesting in assessing some aspects of South America and the drugs of abuse therein; there are a lot of issues with the definition of these disorders, who would decide such diagnoses, and most of all, who funded the report. I say, get the important points out of it…like that even in South America, opioid use is rising (that part is wildly important!) And take the rest with a grain of salt.

Oh, and one other thing…where was alcohol in all this?

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Sarah Friedman

I look stuff up and and write stuff down, in order to make sense of the world around. And I travel a lot too.

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Boost Your Health: Mind, Body & Soul

Europe's cocaine addiction is destabilizing South America. EU countries may be next

Drug-trafficking gangs are undermining South America’s governments, police forces and societies. Europe is the world’s fastest-growing market for cocaine. Are EU countries importing South America’s security problems too?

Cocaine seizure quantities are rising month by month. Here, the police in Paraguay presented 3.2 tons of the drug at the end of last year.

In August last year, contract killers shot and killed Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio. He had previously denounced links between the Los Choneros drug gang and top judicial, military and political figures – and revealed that he had received death threats. Shortly afterward he was dead.

The Los Choneros gang is said to have issued the contract for his murder. However, this has not been proven. A number of suspects in the shooting were murdered in prison after their arrest.

Five months later, drug-trafficking crime groups in Ecuador are once again challenging the state. Earlier this month, they paralyzed the country with bomb attacks, kidnappings and the occupation of a TV station. Leading gang bosses were allowed to leave high-security prisons unmolested. President Daniel Noboa, who has just taken office, has declared a state of emergency and sent the military after the drug gangs.

New level of brutality

In Ecuador, the battle between narcos and the government, which is taking place everywhere in South America, is being taken to a new, more intense level. Organized crime groups have openly declared war on the government. In South America, this has previously only ever happened in Colombia. There, however, it also had a political dimension for some time, because the FARC guerrillas saw themselves as liberators of the country, and justified their drug trafficking by claiming it was financing the left-wing revolution.

The war for market share and control of drug routes in Latin America is particularly intense in Mexico. Drug cartels have long controlled entire federal states there. The national government has lost sovereignty over large parts of the country. Murder rates are notoriously high. When politicians or experts in South America warn of the emergence of «Mexican conditions» in their countries, Mexico's government is outraged.

But Ecuador is now showing that there is also a threat of open conflict with the cartels in South America, just as in Mexico. This is currently the biggest challenge facing the region’s countries – and will remain so in the coming years.

The growing geographical influence of drug gangs in South America is due to the fact that they have been exporting larger quantities of cocaine every year for the past 10 years, primarily to Europe. Colombian drug gangs have been looking for new markets for the drug, which is produced almost exclusively in Colombia, Peru and Bolivia.

Mexican cartels control business in the U.S.

The traditional channels for exporting cocaine to the U.S., either directly or via Central America, continue to function but are no longer growing. The Mexican drug cartels have a monopoly on the shipment of cocaine to the United States. As smugglers and providers of weapons and money, they capture the largest share of profits in the U.S. market.

In Europe, on the other hand, a new, growing and high-priced market for cocaine has emerged. According to Europol, this market has today become even more important for the drug mafias than the United States. Cocaine is now the second-most commonly used drug in Europe after cannabis. According to the United Nations’ drug report, more cocaine residue is detected in Europe's wastewater than anywhere else in the world. More cocaine has been seized in Europe than in the U.S. every year since 2019.

Members of the Ecuadorian Special Mobile Group to Combat Drugs patrol the port of Guayaquil, Ecuador.

At the same time, more cocaine is being produced than ever before. According to the U.N.'s World Drug Report 2023 , cocaine production volumes have increased by two and a half times since 2015. In Colombia in particular, which produces 60% of the world's cocaine, coca cultivation has been massively expanded. During the peace negotiations with the guerrillas there, the state effectively relinquished control over large parts of the country.

The gangs are looking for easily controllable transport routes that they can use to get the drugs to wealthy Europeans. All of South America's port cities now have major problems with drug smuggling. Guayaquil in Ecuador and Santos in Brazil are regarded as the most important smuggling ports. But even in comparatively safe countries not previously known as drug corridors, ports are today being used for smuggling. This can be seen in Montevideo in Uruguay or Valparaíso in Chile, for example.

Transit route and consumer market

Cocaine transit has also made South America the third-most important consumer market in the world after the U.S. and Europe. Latin America is home to a broad middle class of around 150 million people who might conceivably consume cocaine. However, gangs also see the pool of poor people who smoke crack as an attractive market. There are crack districts in all cities today.

The traditional drug mafias have roped in local criminal gangs, and provided them with incentives to engage in the business. There are now several dozen drug gangs in every country in the region, most of which are controlled from prisons, as recently seen in Ecuador. These gangs engage in brutal conflict with one another – but sometimes work together across national borders.

Albanian and Mexican mafias call the shots in Ecuador in cooperation with local gangs. In Brazil, Italian mafias have long been working with local groups such as the PCC, the powerful Brazilian prison mafia originating from São Paulo, South America’s largest city. Tren de Aragua from Venezuela is active in Chile, Peru, Argentina and the Amazon region – wherever Venezuelans have migrated in recent years.

The gangs infiltrate state and economic institutions, subverting the judiciary, the police, political parties and parliaments. Every local journalist knows the deputies, senators, judges and police chiefs who are paid by the gangs, or are themselves even leading members of the organizations.

The growing presence of drug mafias within state institutions is weakening efforts to crack down on crime. Corrupt officials or judges are able to neutralize the effect of otherwise successful police actions. As a result, other kinds of illegal activities are also becoming more common in the wake of drug trafficking.

A worker in a cocaine laboratory in San Miguel, Putumayo. The Colombian province of Putumayo is one of the country’s most important coca cultivation areas, and is partly responsible for the enormous increase in cocaine production in South America as a whole.

Drug money in the legal economy.

When drug sales falter, as they did during the COVID-19 pandemic, criminals turn to extorting protection money from small and medium-sized entrepreneurs or even to kidnapping as an alternative. The drug money also facilitates other criminal activities. For example, the drug gangs in the Amazon region finance illegal logging and gold mining. This allows them to increase their profits.

Drug cartels everywhere are channeling illegal money into the legal economy in order to launder it. This is less noticeable in large economies such as Brazil than in small countries such as Uruguay or Ecuador.

The region’s countries are currently taking one of two approaches to the drug gangs – tolerance or repression.

Some governments try to keep crime under control by tolerating the drug business. Under this model, the states largely leave the drug business alone, with the proviso that the gangs keep general crime under control. No government openly admits to negotiating such deals with the criminal groups.

But this is how it works with Brazil’s PCC, for example, and the crime rate in São Paulo has fallen. However, in the case of clashes between the gangs, agreements like this are of little use, as recent explosions of violence in Brazil, Ecuador and Chile over the past 12 months show.

Ineffective clampdown

Repression also appears increasingly unpromising. The region’s public security forces are hopelessly overmatched by the gangs’ growing military power – especially as they too are being infiltrated by the criminal groups, and are thus losing both effectiveness and credibility.

To fight the drug gangs more effectively, countries would need to increase cooperation and exchange information more effectively. But initiatives of this kind are still in their infancy. Even in large countries such as Brazil or Argentina, provincial and federal police units tend to work in isolation from one another, even when focusing on the same territories. It sometimes seems as if there is hardly any interest in taking genuinely effective action against the gangs.

Warning for Europe

The explosive security situation in South America should serve as a warning to Europe. This is because there is an increasing risk that the drug gangs’ practices will filter into Europe along with their cocaine. The Netherlands is a glaring example of how drug crime is escalating as smuggling increases. Journalists are being shot there, and judges are being threatened.

In Europe, too, all ports and their surrounding areas are experiencing growing problems due to the explosion in cocaine smuggling. It is only a matter of time before the police, judiciary, customs services and prisons are infiltrated. The mafias simply have too much money at their disposal due to the strong demand for cocaine to think otherwise. In Europe, too, there is a confusing network of overlapping competencies and responsibilities in the fight against drug trafficking.

Police officers in Paraguay escort a confiscated truck holding cocaine that was to be loaded onto a ship bound for Europe.

Cooperation with the authorities in South America is suffering as a result. Drug investigators there complain that the institutions in Europe are also a hopeless mess.

It does not seem to be a question of whether, but rather of how quickly the problems associated with cocaine trafficking will take root in Europe. As long as consumers are prepared to spend money on the powder from the Andes, police officers, port workers, judges and lawyers will fall under the gangs’ influence. With this will come all the well-known problems for public safety.

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MEDICINES TO BRING WHEN TRAVELLING TO SOUTH AMERICA

Not too much to mention in the introduction. Here are the medicines to Bring When Travelling to South America. In this article, you will find general considerations about the most common diseases you expect in South America. This article is the fourth in a series of articles about the medicines you should take before traveling. I started in the first article with a list of medications to consider when going everywhere. Then, in the second and third articles, I discussed the medical issues in Africa and Asia, respectively. Now, a new piece, about medicines to Bring When Travelling to South America.

MEDICINES TO BRING WHEN TRAVELING TO AFRICA

MEDICINES TO BRING WHEN TRAVELING TO ASIA

general considerations

Are you traveling to South America??? Yes? Indeed a great idea! With this thought, you are on the verge of exploring what nature offers. The continent opens gates for you to enjoy the adventurous trip. South America is the home of beeches and glaciers. From Iguazu Falls to the wildest type of forest, Amazon, it has much to offer, which makes you taste how urban life looks like. But one thing is always problematic – what medicines to bring when traveling to South America as no place on earth is free from microbes and may lead to devastating diseases. You are more likely to be caught by some sort of illnesses as you land there – headache, shoulders pain, body ache, fatigue, and so on. So, that’s better to foresee and reduce dangers.

MEDICINES TO BRING WHEN TRAVELING ANYWHERE

Although South America is comprised of 12 different countries, they have, for sure, different climates, different stories, different demographics, and various issues as well. Your First Aid box and equipment largely depends, which country you aim to visit. Furthermore, there are the most common illnesses we’re going to highlight for you to take medicines kit along.

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You need to be wary about the current health problems, outbreaks, and common illnesses about the country, which you are going to travel. The more you know, the easier it would be to pack your mini emergency kit!

Coronavirus pandemic is a global warning. All visitors to any country in the world should take special precautions. Numbers of new cases are rising, particularly in Brazil, there are over 1 million confirmed COVID19 cases. Until now, there is a specific cure. However, acetaminophen is a must and can help to relieve symptoms. actually, acetaminophen is on the top list of the medicines to bring When Travelling to South America. Also, washing hands and keep healthy hygiene is a must.

HOW CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC WILL END? 5 POSSIBLE SCENARIOS

If you have planned to travel countries like Brazil, Venezuela, and Colombia, that’s better to take medicine for dengue. In South America, in 2019, more than 1200 deaths were reported due to dengue. While in 2002, more than 700,000 cases of dengue were reported. Dengue starts with headaches, joints pain, and vomiting and could end up with death in some cases. Of course, mosquitoes are everywhere, but you can protect yourself by taking anti-mosquitoes stuff – Sprays, coils, creams, and lamps.

Unfortunately, yet no proper medication to treat dengue has been manufactured. In case if you fall ill with dengue, you must eat all the vegetables and fruits which promise to surge the level of platelets. For the relief of pain, you may take Acetaminophen.

Drug: Acetaminophen (Tylenol, Paracetamol) Dose: For an adult, 325mg to 500mg tablets against the pain is enough Precautions: can provide relief from pain, sore throat, common cold, and fever. It’s better to keep the medicine before moving to Asian countries. Contact your doctor for the recommended dose for children

This is the second most prevalent illness. If you are traveling to Central South America, then, unfortunately, there is no guaranteed management for sewage and clean water. More likely, and you catch Typhoid fever. South American, African, and Asian countries are at a higher risk of typhoid. A report has revealed that each year 21M cases of typhoid are reported majorly from these targeted continents and more than 200,000 deaths. So, adventurous and long-term travelers are specially prescribed to take adequate measures and always carry medicines with them.

Drug: Ciprofloxacin Dose: 500mg tablets once/twice a day according to your Doctor advice Precautions: Must be avoided in young adults under 18 years. It may cause severe muscle pain and should be prescribed only by your doctor

If your aiming destination is Peru, then be aware, it is at the highest risk of cholera among other South American countries. However, most cases were in 1991, which had led to 45% of deaths in Central South America – the highest fatality rate. Travelers must take care to eat fully-cooked food, avoid having stale food. Plus, throughout your destination, try to cook at home and avoid junk. In case, if you catch the fever, symptoms are watery diarrhea, vomiting, dry mouth, loss of water from the body, sweating, and low blood pressure.

Medicine: Tetracyclin, Ciprofloxacin, and Doxycyclin.

Drug: Doxycycline (Vibramycin, Oracea, Adoxa, Atridox, Doxy) Dose: 100 mg once daily. Must be started 2 days before travel to a malaria-endemic area and continue as long as you are traveling and to be maintained for 1 month after leaving the malaria-endemic area Precautions: Allergic reactions. Avoid sun exposure even if for a short time, as it may cause a skin rash or color change. For more information, always consult your doctor. Avoid in children under 8 years old (better to use Atovaquone-Proguanil)

As we mentioned in the other travel guides to Africa and Asia, Malaria is a significant risk in South America too. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  (CDC) has published the yellow book for Malaria prevention and treatment. The treatment is mainly doxycycline. However, malaria vaccination is mandatory before travel.

Other Common Illnesses

Since not all the body types are the same, some have stronger immunity while some have weaker, you should know your body type and pack your first aid box accordingly. While these common illnesses may turn out problematic:

• Sore Throat

To cope with these conditions, you may also have Over-the-counter medicines with you!

DRINKING WATER DURING TRAVELING IS CHALLENGING

Medical kit during traveling is more than a bag; it’s a “survival box,” which contains necessary medicines that save you from illnesses. No matter what your luggage provides, but it must have a first aid box. Journey to South America is full of amusement; it offers an adventurous life to taste and invite you to explore what nature has. On the other hand, it might be unsafe, as microbes are the part of life looking for your way to harm.

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Hello, My name is Yahya. I am 39 years old and soon will be 40. I was born and lived in the historic city of Cairo, Egypt. I Work as a doctor; cardiologist. Traveling is my passion. I am proud to be the owner and creator of Traveler78 website. If you like the material on my website, please subscribe to my website and share it with your friends. Also, you can follow me on your favorite social network. For further information, please contact me either in the comments or via E-mail.

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This U.S. City Was Just Named the Best Place to Live for Low Cost of Living

Hint: it's in Indiana.

DenisTangneyJr/Getty Images

With inflation and mortgage rates straining Americans' finances and plans to buy a home, many are looking to relocate to communities with lower housing and living costs. States like New York, California, and Illinois are losing residents to South Carolina, Texas, and Idaho, where people can still get more bang for their buck without compromising their standard of life or job opportunities. But if affordability is truly a top priority for you, consider moving to South Bend, Indiana, which just topped Niche.com's list of cities with the lowest cost of living in America.

South Bend, which is located on St. Joseph River in Northern Indiana and is home to about 103,000 residents, received an overall grade of A- based on its performance in several categories, such as housing, jobs, diversity, and cost of living. According to Zillow, the median home value in South Bend is $169,000, or over $200,000 below the country's average, and the median rent is $935, which is also lower than the national average of $1,268. In addition, the overall cost of living, which takes into account expenses such as groceries, transportation, clothing, and utilities, is 18 percent lower than the national average.

South Bend is home to the University of Notre Dame, which has left its mark on the city's social life. It offers tons of recreational activities, restaurants, bars, sports, and arts events. Those seeking a more active lifestyle closer to nature will also thrive here, as there are dozens of parks and hiking trails. Howard Park, for example, along the St Joseph River, boasts 13 acres of facilities, including a playground and an ice trail.

South Bend's job market received a B from Niche.com, and its commute — an A. According to the Bureau of Labor, the unemployment rate in the city in February 2024 was 4.7 percent, with education, healthcare, and manufacturing among the top industries with the largest employment in the area.

However, the city's lowest scores were in the crime and safety (D+) and weather (C) categories, as South Bend records more violent and property crimes per capita than the nation's average

Another city in Indiana made it to the top three list of the most affordable places in the country, and that's Evansville, which ranked third. Second was Brownsville in southern Texas on the Gulf of Mexico.

You can read Niche.com's full list  here .

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What we know about unauthorized immigrants living in the U.S.

The unauthorized immigrant population in the United States reached 10.5 million in 2021, according to new Pew Research Center estimates. That was a modest increase over 2019 but nearly identical to 2017.

The number of unauthorized immigrants living in the U.S. in 2021 remained below its peak of 12.2 million in 2007. It was about the same size as in 2004 and lower than every year from 2005 to 2015.

The new estimates do not reflect changes that have occurred since apprehensions and expulsions of migrants along the U.S.-Mexico border started increasing in March 2021 . Migrant encounters at the border have since reached historic highs .

Pew Research Center undertook this research to understand ongoing changes in the size and characteristics of the unauthorized immigrant population in the United States. The Center has published estimates of the U.S. unauthorized immigrant population for more than two decades. The estimates presented in this research are the Center’s latest, adding new and updated annual estimates for 2017 through 2021.

Center estimates of the unauthorized immigrant population use a “residual method.” It is similar to methods used by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Immigration Statistics and nongovernmental organizations, including the Center for Migration Studies and the Migration Policy Institute . Those organizations’ estimates are generally consistent with ours. Our estimates also align with official U.S. data sources, including birth records, school enrollment figures and tax data, as well as Mexican censuses and surveys.

Our “residual” method for estimating the nation’s unauthorized immigrant population includes these steps:

• Estimate the total number of immigrants living in the country in a particular year using data from U.S. censuses and government surveys such as the American Community Survey and the Current Population Survey.
• Estimate the number of immigrants living in the U.S. legally using official counts of immigrant and refugee admissions together with other demographic data (for example, death and out-migration rates).
• Subtract our estimate of lawful immigrants from our estimate of the total immigrant population . This provides an initial estimate of the unauthorized immigrant population .

Our final estimate of the U.S. unauthorized immigrant population, as well as estimates for lawful immigrants, includes an upward adjustment. We do this because censuses and surveys tend to miss some people . Undercounts for immigrants, especially unauthorized immigrants, tend to be higher than for other groups. (Our 1990 estimate comes from work by Robert Warren and John Robert Warren; details can be found here .)

The term “unauthorized immigrant” reflects standard and customary usage by many academic researchers and policy analysts. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Immigration Statistics also generally uses it. The term means the same thing as undocumented immigrants, illegal immigrants and illegal aliens.

For more details on how we produced our estimates, read the Methodology section of our November 2018 report on unauthorized immigrants.

The unauthorized immigrant population includes any immigrants not in the following groups:

• Immigrants admitted for lawful residence (i.e., green card admissions)
• People admitted formally as refugees
• People granted asylum
• Former unauthorized immigrants granted legal residence under the 1985 Immigration Reform and Control Act
• Immigrants admitted under any of categories 1-4 who have become naturalized U.S. citizens
• Individuals admitted as lawful temporary residents under specific visa categories

Read the Methodology section of our November 2018 report on unauthorized immigrants for more details.

Pew Research Center’s estimate of unauthorized immigrants includes more than 2 million immigrants who have temporary permission to be in the United States. (Some also have permission to work in the country.) These immigrants account for about 20% of our national estimate of 10.5 million unauthorized immigrants for 2021.

Although these immigrants have permission to be in the country, they could be subject to deportation if government policy changes. Other organizations and the federal government also include these immigrants in their estimates of the U.S. unauthorized immigrant population.

Immigrants can receive temporary permission to be in the U.S. through the following ways:

Temporary Protected Status (TPS)

In 2021, there were about 500,000 unauthorized immigrants with Temporary Protected Status . This status provides protection from removal or deportation to individuals who cannot safely return to their country because of civil unrest, violence or natural disaster.

Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) is a similar program that grants protection from removal. The number of immigrants with DED is much smaller than the number with TPS.

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals is a program that offers protection from deportation to individuals who were brought to the U.S. as children before June 15, 2007. As of the end of 2021, there were slightly more than 600,000 DACA beneficiaries , largely immigrants from Mexico.

Asylum applicants

Individuals who have applied for asylum but are awaiting a ruling are not legal residents yet but cannot be deported. There are two types of asylum claims, defensive and affirmative .

Defensive asylum applications are generally filed by individuals facing deportation or removal from the U.S. These are processed by the Department of Justice’s Executive Office for Immigration Review. At the end of 2021, there were almost 600,000 applications pending.

Affirmative asylum claims are made by individuals already in the U.S. who are not in the process of being deported or removed. These claims are handled by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). At the end of 2021, more than 400,000 applications for affirmative asylum were pending, some covering more than one applicant.

Here are key findings about how the U.S. unauthorized immigrant population changed from 2017 to 2021:

• The most common country of birth for unauthorized immigrants is Mexico. However, the population of unauthorized immigrants from Mexico dropped by 900,000 from 2017 to 2021 , to 4.1 million.
• There were increases in unauthorized immigrants from nearly every other region of the world – Central America, the Caribbean, South America, Asia, Europe and sub-Saharan Africa.
• Among U.S. states, only Florida and Washington saw increases to their unauthorized immigrant populations , while California and Nevada saw decreases. In all other states, unauthorized immigrant populations were unchanged.
• 4.6% of U.S. workers in 2021 were unauthorized immigrants , virtually identical to the share in 2017.

Trends in the U.S. immigrant population

The U.S. foreign-born population was 14.1% of the nation’s population in 2021. That was very slightly higher than in the last five years but below the record high of 14.8% in 1890.

As of 2021, the nation’s 10.5 million unauthorized immigrants represented about 3% of the total U.S. population and 22% of the foreign-born population. These shares were among the lowest since the 1990s.

Between 2007 and 2021, the unauthorized immigrant population decreased by 1.75 million, or 14%.

Meanwhile, the lawful immigrant population grew by more than 8 million, a 29% increase, and the number of naturalized U.S. citizens grew by 49%. In 2021, naturalized citizens accounted for about half (49%) of all immigrants in the country.

Where unauthorized immigrants come from

Unauthorized immigrants living in the U.S. come from many parts of the world, with Mexico being the most common origin country.

The origin countries for unauthorized immigrants have changed since the population peaked in 2007, before the Great Recession slowed immigration. Here are some highlights of those changes:

The number of unauthorized immigrants from Mexico living in the U.S. (4.1 million in 2021) was the lowest since the 1990s. Mexico accounted for 39% of the nation’s unauthorized immigrants in 2021, by far the smallest share on record .

The decrease in unauthorized immigrants from Mexico reflects several factors:

• A broader decline in migration from Mexico to the U.S.
• Mexican immigrants to the U.S. continuing to return to Mexico
• Expanded opportunities for lawful immigration from Mexico and other countries, especially for temporary agricultural workers.

The rest of the world

The total number of unauthorized immigrants in the U.S. from countries other than Mexico has grown rapidly. In 2021, this population was 6.4 million, up by 900,000 from 2017.

Almost every region in the world had a notable increase in the number of unauthorized immigrants in the U.S. from 2007 to 2021. The largest increases were from Central America (240,000) and South and East Asia (180,000).

After Mexico, the countries of origin with the largest unauthorized immigrant populations in the U.S. in 2021 were:

• El Salvador (800,000)
• India (725,000)
• Guatemala (700,000)
• Honduras (525,000)

India, Guatemala and Honduras all saw increases from 2017.

The Northern Triangle

Three Central American countries – El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala – together represented 2.0 million unauthorized immigrants in the U.S. in 2021, or almost 20% of the total. The unauthorized immigrant population from the Northern Triangle grew by about 250,000 from 2017 and about 700,000 from 2007.

Other origin countries

Venezuela was the country of birth for 190,000 U.S. unauthorized immigrants in 2021. This population saw particularly fast growth, from 130,000 in 2017 and 55,000 in 2007.

Among countries with the largest numbers of U.S. unauthorized immigrants, India, Brazil, Canada and former Soviet Union countries all experienced growth from 2017 to 2021.

Some origin countries with significant unauthorized immigrant populations showed no change, notably China (375,000) and the Dominican Republic (230,000).

Detailed table: Unauthorized immigrant population by region and selected country of birth (and margins of error), 1990-2021 (Excel)

U.S. states of residence of unauthorized immigrants

The unauthorized immigrant population in most U.S. states stayed steady from 2017 to 2021. However, four states saw significant changes:

• Florida (+80,000)
• Washington (+60,000)
• California (-150,000)
• Nevada (-25,000)

States with the most unauthorized immigrants

The six states with the largest unauthorized immigrant populations in 2021 were:

• California (1.9 million)
• Texas (1.6 million)
• Florida (900,000)
• New York (600,000)
• New Jersey (450,000)
• Illinois (400,000)

These states have consistently had the most unauthorized immigrants since 1990 and earlier .

At the same time, the unauthorized immigrant population has become less geographically concentrated. In 2021, these six states were home to 56% of the nation’s unauthorized immigrants, down from 80% in 1990.

Detailed table: Unauthorized immigrant population for states (and margins of error), 1990-2021 (Excel)

Detailed table: Unauthorized immigrants and characteristics for states, 2021 (Excel)

Unauthorized immigrants in the labor force

The share of unauthorized immigrants in the U.S. workforce was slightly less than 5% in 2021, compared with 3% of the total U.S. population.

Demographics help explain the difference: The unauthorized immigrant population includes relatively few children or elderly adults, groups that tend not to be in the labor force.

Overall, about 7.8 million unauthorized immigrants were in the U.S. labor force in 2021. That was up slightly from 2019 but smaller than every year from 2007 through 2015.

Detailed table: Unauthorized immigrants in the labor force for states, 2021 (Excel)

Here are some additional findings about unauthorized immigrants as a share of the workforce nationwide and in certain states:

• Since 2003, unauthorized immigrants have made up 4.4% to 5.4% of all U.S. workers, a relatively narrow range.
• Fewer than 1% of workers in Maine, Montana, Vermont and West Virginia in 2021 were unauthorized immigrants.
• Nevada (9%) and Texas (8%) had the highest shares of unauthorized immigrants in the workforce.
• Immigrant Populations
• Immigration Issues
• Unauthorized Immigration

Jeffrey S. Passel is a senior demographer at Pew Research Center

Jens Manuel Krogstad is a senior writer and editor at Pew Research Center

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Bosnia Arrests 23 in Europol-Backed Action Against Drug Cartel

SARAJEVO (Reuters) - Bosnian police backed by international law enforcement agencies raided dozens of locations and arrested 23 people suspected of working for the jailed kingpin of a European drug cartel, the European Union police agency (Europol) said on Tuesday.

Among those arrested during raids in Sarajevo, Mostar and Zenica on Monday were several high-ranking police officials suspected of organised crime and money laundering, Bosnia's chief prosecutor said in a statement.

Suspects were being questioned to decide whether formal charges will be filed.

War in Israel and Gaza

"Europol supported yesterday´s action which serves as another milestone in the fight against the so-called ‘super cartel’, an alliance of criminal networks that controls much of Europe’s cocaine trade," a Europol statement said.

It said the main aim of the operation was to nab the inner circle of a Bosnian-Dutch druglord who was convicted and jailed in the Netherlands in 2023 but might still be steering the drug trade from South America to Europe and Australia.

The man, who Europol did not name, was among 49 suspects arrested in 2022 in coordinated raids carried out across Europe and the United Arab Emirates, targeting major alleged drug bosses.

Photos You Should See - April 2024

Europol specialists as well as agents of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) backed the Bosnian police raids.

(Reporting by Daria Sito-Sucic; editing by Mark Heinrich)

Copyright 2024 Thomson Reuters .

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West Africa’s Sahel becoming a drug trafficking corridor, UN warns

Drug seizures, mainly of cocaine and cannabis resin, have soared in the region, according to a UN report.

Drug seizures have soared in the West African Sahel region, according to a new United Nations report , indicating the conflict-ridden region is becoming an influential route for drug trafficking.

In 2022, 1,466kg (3,232 pounds) of cocaine were seized in Mali, Chad, Burkina Faso and Niger compared to an average of 13kg (28.7 pounds) between 2013 and 2020, said the report released by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on Friday.

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Cocaine is the most seized drug in the Sahel after cannabis resin, the report added.

The location of the Sahel – lying south of the Sahara desert and running from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea – makes it a natural transit point for the increasing amount of cocaine produced in South America and destined for Europe.

The trafficking has detrimental effects on both peace and health, locally and globally, said Amado Philip de Andres, UNODC regional representative in West and Central Africa.

“The involvement of various armed groups in drug trafficking continues to undermine peace and stability in the region,” said Philip de Andres.

The report highlighted that the drug trade provides financial resources to armed groups in the Sahel, where extremist networks have flourished as the region struggles with a recent spate of coups.

“Drug trafficking is facilitated by a wide range of individuals, which can include members of the political elite, community leaders, and leaders of armed groups,” the UNODC said, adding that this enables armed groups to “sustain their involvement in conflict, notably through the purchase of weapons”.

“Traffickers have used their income to penetrate different layers of the state, allowing them to effectively avoid prosecution,” the UNODC added.

‘Urgent, coordinated action’

In recent years, the region has also become an area of drug consumption.

A patrol in southwest Niger on Monday intercepted a shipment of cannabis and Tramadol, an opioid painkiller pill, worth $50,000, according to a national TV announcement.

Corruption and money laundering are major enablers of drug trafficking and recent seizures and arrests revealed that political elite, community leaders and leaders of armed groups facilitate the drug trade in the Sahel, the UN report said.

“States in the Sahel region – along with the international community – must take urgent, coordinated, and comprehensive action to dismantle drug trafficking networks,” said Leonardo Santos Simao, special representative of the UN secretary-general for West Africa.

Lucia Bird, the director of the Observatory of Illicit Economies in West Africa at the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, told Al Jazeera that corruption is the grease that keeps the wheels of any criminal market moving.

“The Sahel is also gripped with instability and there are areas the government is struggling to control. And this instability also creates opportunities for criminal markets and drug trafficking,” she noted.

“Right now the priority for the Sahel has to be stabilisation,” Bird said, adding that the entire supply chain should respond to the challenges posed by the drug trade and the responsibility should not just fall on transit countries.