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Brazil is one of the most unequal democracies in the world. Although the number of homeless individuals in our country has increased due to the reproduction of people living in extreme poverty, little has been discussed about their welfare and rights. In the present study, we provide analysis with a theoretical-methodological approach directed at homeless people living in the wealthy neoliberal middle-sized southeast city of São Paulo, Brazil's richest state. Data was acquired from police reports with prior permission from the Civil Police of São Paulo and the São Paulo Interior Judiciary Police Department. Our results illustrate that the homelessness phenomenon in Franca appears to be comparable to that of other large urban cities, where Blacks, a minority of the population, make up the bulk of homeless individuals. It also denies that homeless activity increases criminality, emphasizes the difference between Blacks and Whites drug users' criminal behavior, with Whites being more active in theft and robbery and Blacks in trafficking, and extends the idea that drug use by homeless people is stress-related and hence an indicator of a health condition.

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Drugs of abuse are psychoactive substances illicitly distributed and used worldwide. In Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, they represent a public health issue and are directly related to several social problems. The recent increase in appearances of new psychoactive substances (NPS), derived from structural modifications of existing psychoactive substances, poses a threat to public health and forensic laboratories worldwide, as little is known about these substances. This study aimed to chemically and geographically map drugs of abuse from blotter papers seized by the Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro State (PCERJ) between 2006 and 2019. High-performance analytical techniques, such as gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and Orbitrap mass spectrometry (Orbitrap-MS), combined with statistical analyses, were employed to characterize the seized samples. The most common chemical compounds in NPS found in this study were synthetic phenethylamines, i.e., molecules from the 25I-NBOH (2-(((4-iodo-2,5-dimethoxyphenethyl)amino)methyl)phenol) and 25I-NBOMe (2-(4-iodo-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-(2-methoxybenzyl)ethanamine) families. Prior to 2014, the majority of seized blotter papers contained lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and were concentrated in the Metropolitan region. An upsurge in blotter paper seizures was observed from 2014 to 2017; the most common substances during this time were from the NBOMe family. NBOH compounds emerged in 2016 in coastal regions with high tourism, reaching over 1300 items only in 2017. Only one synthetic cannabinoid was found among the blotter papers seized in Rio de Janeiro between 2006 and 2019. The assembled chemical data and statistical analyses allowed the mapping and monitoring of the chemical profiles of the seized blotter papers, providing a strong foundation for the understanding of the origins and movement of these drugs around the RJ State.

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In this study, the prevalence rate, associated risk factors and genetic diversity of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection were determined among people who use crack from an international drug trafficking route in Central-West, Brazil. Blood samples were collected from 700 users of crack from Campo Grande and two border cities of Mato Grosso do Sul State and tested for HCV infection using serological and molecular testing methodologies. Anti-HCV was detected in 31/700 (4.5%, 95% CI: 2.9-6.0%) and HCV RNA in 26/31 (83.9%) of anti-HCV positive samples. Phylogenetic analysis of three HCV sub-genomic regions (5'UTR, NS5B and HVR-1) revealed the circulation of 1a (73.9%), 1b (8.7%) and 3a (17.4%) genotypes. Next-generation sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of intra-host viral populations of HCV HVR-1 showed a significant variation in intra-host genetic diversity among infected individuals, with 58.8% composed of more than one sub-population. Bayesian analysis estimated that the most recent common HCV ancestor for strains identified here was introduced to this region after 1975 following expansion of intravenous drug use in Brazil. Multivariate analyses showed that only 'ever having injected drugs' was independently associated with HCV infection. These results indicate an increasing spread of multiple HCV strains requiring public health intervention, such as harm reduction, testing services and treatment among crack users in this important border region of Central Brazil.

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Introduction Drug-related crimes, especially drug trafficking, account for a large part of incarcerations not only in Brazil, but also worldwide. It is not clear whether the change in the drug law has contributed to the increase in the number of drug trafficking prisoners. Few studies have investigated gender differences and the growth of drug trafficking offenses in the Brazilian southern state of Rio Grande do Sul. Objective To investigate the growth of the prison population in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, emphasizing incarcerations for drug trafficking and gender differences. Method This was an ecological study using secondary data collected from official databases of the Brazilian National Penitentiary Department (Departamento Penitenciário [DEPEN]), affiliated with the Brazilian Ministry of Justice. Results Between 2006 and 2015, incarcerations increased by 27% (25% men, 83% women). Incarcerations for drug trafficking accounted for 11% of total arrests in 2006 (11% men, 20% women) and 45% in 2015 (47% men, 91% women), corresponding to an increase of 427% (415% among men, 723% among women). Conclusions Imprisonment for drug trafficking has increased considerably, especially among women. This may be due to factors such as: increase of drug trafficking, increase in the numbers of gangs in the state, and changes in the Brazilian drug law. These results highlight an emerging challenge in public health from the perspective of human rights and gender.

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Abstract Introduction Drug-related crimes, especially drug trafficking, account for a large part of incarcerations not only in Brazil, but also worldwide. It is not clear whether the change in the drug law has contributed to the increase in the number of drug trafficking prisoners. Few studies have investigated gender differences and the growth of drug trafficking offenses in the Brazilian southern state of Rio Grande do Sul. Objective To investigate the growth of the prison population in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, emphasizing incarcerations for drug trafficking and gender differences. Method This was an ecological study using secondary data collected from official databases of the Brazilian National Penitentiary Department (Departamento Penitenciário [DEPEN]), affiliated with the Brazilian Ministry of Justice. Results Between 2006 and 2015, incarcerations increased by 27% (25% men, 83% women). Incarcerations for drug trafficking accounted for 11% of total arrests in 2006 (11% men, 20% women) and 45% in 2015 (47% men, 91% women), corresponding to an increase of 427% (415% among men, 723% among women). Conclusions Imprisonment for drug trafficking has increased considerably, especially among women. This may be due to factors such as: increase of drug trafficking, increase in the numbers of gangs in the state, and changes in the Brazilian drug law. These results highlight an emerging challenge in public health from the perspective of human rights and gender.

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To study the association between intentional homicide, drug trafficking and social indicators in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil in 2010. This is an ecological study, based on cases of intentional homicides and drug trafficking registered by the Civil Police of Bahia, as well as social indicators. A negative binomial regression model, utilizing R software (version 2.13.0), was used to verify the association between the homicide rate, drug trafficking and the proportion of black males aged 15 - 49. There were 1391 homicides in 2010, giving a rate of 108.5 homicides per 100,000 people. It was observed that in neighborhoods with a proportion of black males aged 15 - 49 over 60%, this rate increased by 89% (≥ 60% and ≤ 80%) and 87% (> 80%), compared to neighborhoods with less than 60% of black males aged 15 - 49. Regarding the factor of drug trafficking, there was a statistically significant average increase of 40% in terms of this coefficient in neighborhoods with five or more cases of drug trafficking, compared to neighborhoods with less than five of such cases. The empirical evidence that was observed can help to contribute to the existing knowledge about the phenomenon of deaths due to homicide in large cities, and it will also help managers, public security and organized civil society to face this problem.

O objetivo deste artigo é verificar a associação entre homicídio doloso, tráfico de drogas e indicadores sociais em Salvador, Bahia, Brasil, no ano de 2010. Trata-se de estudo ecológico a partir dos casos de homicídios dolosos e de tráfico de drogas registrados pela Polícia Civil da Bahia com indicadores sociais. A análise entre o coeficiente de homicídio doloso, tráfico de drogas e proporção de homens negros de 15 a 49 anos foi feita através do modelo de regressão binomial negativa, com software R versão 2.13.0. Foram registrados 1.391 homicídios dolosos em 2010, gerando coeficiente de 108,5 homicídios por 100mil habitantes. Na associação foi observado que nos bairros com proporção de homens negros de 15 a 49 anos acima de 60%, esse coeficiente aumentou 89% (≥ 60% e ≤ 80%) e 87% (> 80%), comparado com bairros com proporção menor que 60%. Quanto ao tráfico de drogas, houve aumento médio de 40% estatisticamente significante nesse coeficiente nos bairros com 5 ou mais casos, comparado com bairros com menos de 5. As evidências empíricas observadas poderão contribuir para o conhecimento sobre o fenômeno dos óbitos por homicídios dolosos nas grandes cidades e poderá auxiliar gestores, segurança pública e sociedade civil organizada no enfrentamento desse problema.

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Resumo O objetivo deste artigo é verificar a associação entre homicídio doloso, tráfico de drogas e indicadores sociais em Salvador, Bahia, Brasil, no ano de 2010. Trata-se de estudo ecológico a partir dos casos de homicídios dolosos e de tráfico de drogas registrados pela Polícia Civil da Bahia com indicadores sociais. A análise entre o coeficiente de homicídio doloso, tráfico de drogas e proporção de homens negros de 15 a 49 anos foi feita através do modelo de regressão binomial negativa, com software R versão 2.13.0. Foram registrados 1.391 homicídios dolosos em 2010, gerando coeficiente de 108,5 homicídios por 100mil habitantes. Na associação foi observado que nos bairros com proporção de homens negros de 15 a 49 anos acima de 60%, esse coeficiente aumentou 89% (≥ 60% e ≤ 80%) e 87% (> 80%), comparado com bairros com proporção menor que 60%. Quanto ao tráfico de drogas, houve aumento médio de 40% estatisticamente significante nesse coeficiente nos bairros com 5 ou mais casos, comparado com bairros com menos de 5. As evidências empíricas observadas poderão contribuir para o conhecimento sobre o fenômeno dos óbitos por homicídios dolosos nas grandes cidades e poderá auxiliar gestores, segurança pública e sociedade civil organizada no enfrentamento desse problema.

Abstract To study the association between intentional homicide, drug trafficking and social indicators in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil in 2010. This is an ecological study, based on cases of intentional homicides and drug trafficking registered by the Civil Police of Bahia, as well as social indicators. A negative binomial regression model, utilizing R software (version 2.13.0), was used to verify the association between the homicide rate, drug trafficking and the proportion of black males aged 15 - 49. There were 1391 homicides in 2010, giving a rate of 108.5 homicides per 100,000 people. It was observed that in neighborhoods with a proportion of black males aged 15 - 49 over 60%, this rate increased by 89% (≥ 60% and ≤ 80%) and 87% (> 80%), compared to neighborhoods with less than 60% of black males aged 15 - 49. Regarding the factor of drug trafficking, there was a statistically significant average increase of 40% in terms of this coefficient in neighborhoods with five or more cases of drug trafficking, compared to neighborhoods with less than five of such cases. The empirical evidence that was observed can help to contribute to the existing knowledge about the phenomenon of deaths due to homicide in large cities, and it will also help managers, public security and organized civil society to face this problem.

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BACKGROUND: In Uruguay, real tobacco taxes increased significantly during 2005-2010 and 2014-2017 and decreased during 2010-2014. The effects of these tax changes on illegal and legal cigarette usage differed significantly when we compared cities in the middle and south of the country with cities on the border. OBJECTIVE: This paper analyses whether supply side factors such as geographical location, distribution networks and the effectiveness of tobacco control play a significant role in sales and use of illegal cigarettes when tobacco taxes change, particularly given the price gap between legal and lower-priced illegal cigarettes. METHODS: Using the International Tobacco Control Evaluation Project Uruguay Survey data (2008, 2010, 2012 and 2014), choices among illegal, legal and roll-your-own cigarettes are estimated as a function of smokers' geographical location, an indicator of illegal cigarette supply, and controlling for socioeconomic and demographic variables. Smoking behaviours in Montevideo, Durazno and Maldonado were compared with those in two border cities, Salto and Rivera, where illegal cigarette prevalence may differ. FINDINGS: An increase in taxes on manufactured legal and roll-your-own cigarettes increased the odds that smokers in cities near the borders and women switched down to illegal cigarettes. City geographical location, controls effectiveness and distribution networks may play a significant role in accessibility of illegal cigarettes. To improve the effectiveness of increased taxes and prices in reducing smoking, policy-makers may consider specific policies intended to reduce access to illegal cigarettes, such as ratification and effective implementation of the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products of WHO.

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In North America, opioid use and its harms have increased in the United States and Canada over the past 2 decades. However, Mexico has yet to document patterns suggesting a higher level of opioid use or attendant harms.Historically, Mexico has been a country with low-level use of opioids, although heroin use has been documented. Low-level opioid use is likely attributable to structural, cultural, and individual factors. However, a range of dynamic factors may be converging to increase the use of opioids: legislative changes to opioid prescribing, national health insurance coverage of opioids, pressure from the pharmaceutical industry, changing demographics and disease burden, forced migration and its trauma, and an increase in the production and trafficking of heroin. In addition, harm-reduction services are scarce.Mexico may transition from a country of low opioid use to high opioid use but has the opportunity to respond effectively through a combination of targeted public health surveillance of high-risk groups, preparation of appropriate infrastructure to support evidence-based treatment, and interventions and policies to avoid a widespread opioid use epidemic.

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The impact of illicit drug markets on the occurrence of violence varies tremendously depending on many factors. Over the last years, Mexico and the USA have increased security border issues that included many aspects of drug-related trade and criminal activities. Mexico experienced only a small reduction in trauma deaths after the enforcement of severe crime reinforcement policies. This strategy in the war on drugs is shifting the drug market to other Central American countries. This phenomenon is called the ballooning effect, whereby the pressure to control illicit drug-related activities in one particular area forces a shift to other more vulnerable areas that leads to an increase in crime and violence. A human rights crisis characterized by suffering, injury, and death related to drug trafficking continues to expand, resulting in the exorbitant loss of lives and cost in productivity across the continent. The current climate of social violence in Central America and the illegal immigration to the USA may be partially related to this phenomenon of drug trafficking, gang violence, and crime. A health care initiative as an alternative to the current war approach may be one of the interventions needed to reduce this crisis.

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BACKGROUND: The US invests considerable effort in searching and interdicting drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific regions. While some vessels are indeed interdicted, resulting in confiscation of substantial quantities of drugs, many such vessels manage to avoid detection and arrive safely at their destinations in Central America and Mexico with their drug load intact. The agency in charge of interdicting this traffic, Joint Interagency Task Force South-JIATF-S, sends out both aerial and surface assets for search and interdiction missions. METHODS: An important parameter for planning search and interdiction missions is an estimate of the expected steady-state number of the various types of drug trafficking vessels present in the search regions at any given time. In this paper we use various publicly available sources to estimate these numbers. RESULTS: We estimate that the number of drug shipments initiated per month ranges between four and six dozen, and at any given time there are between two and four vessels, of all types, on the high seas. These estimates remain quite robust over a relatively large range of assumptions and estimates regarding the size and distribution of the drug flow, mix of vessel types, and physical characteristics of those vessels. CONCLUSION: Our analysis provides insight for how to allocate assets to search, detect, and interdict drug trafficking vessels. The results can also be useful to vet informants to check if their information is consistent with our flow estimates. To the best of our knowledge this is the first time such flow estimates appear in the open literature.

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The aim of this study was to investigate the link between violence, crime, and sexual behavior among patients with substance-related disorder admitted to a specialized inpatient care unit. This was a cross-sectional study using a questionnaire on socio-demographic characteristics, drug of choice (DOC), questions about sexual behavior, and instruments to evaluate the severity of dependence (SADD, DAST, FTND), level of impulsivity (BIS-11), and a screening sex addiction scale. The sample consisted of 587 adult subjects, of which 82.3% were men, 66.4% had used cocaine (sniffed and smoked) as their DOC, 24.4% had a history with the criminal justice system, 26.8% had committed crimes, 19.3% had engaged in violent behavior, and 12.2% had been involved in drug trafficking. In this sample, crime was strongly associated with various sexual behaviors and the severity of substance dependence.

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Since December 2006, more than a thousand cities in México have suffered the effects of the war between several drug cartels, amongst themselves, as well as with Mexican armed forces. Sources are not in agreement about the number of casualties of this war, with reports varying from 30 to 100 thousand dead; the economic and social ravages are impossible to quantify. In this work we analyze the official report of casualties in terms of the location and the date of occurrence of the homicides. We show how the violence, as reflected by the number of casualties, has increased over time and spread across the country. Next, based on the correlations between cities in the changes of the monthly number of casualties attributed to organized crime, we construct a narco-war network where nodes are the affected cities and links represent correlations between them. We find that close geographical distance between violent cities does not imply a strong correlation amongst them. We observe that the dynamics of the conflict has evolved in short-term periods where a small core of violent cities determines the main theatre of the war at each stage. This kind of analysis may also help to describe the emergence and propagation of gang-related violence waves.

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Buscando comprender la trascendencia económica del narcotráfico sobre la concentración del ingreso en Colombia,se estima la magnitud de la repatriación de riqueza del narcotráfico(W) desde la mitad de la década de los setenta,considerando las Utilidades Repatriables (UR) y su absorción mediante Flujos de Capitales Encubiertos (FCE), a través del contrabando, la sobre/subfacturación del comercio y la inversión extranjera originada en paraísos fiscales. Las UR se calculan contablemente utilizando la información disponible de producción, precios y decomisos y supuestos documentados, mientras que los FCE contrastan cifras oficiales con registros del resto del mundo y estimativos según fundamentales teóricos. Así, la W explicaría el repunte en la desigualdad del ingreso, controlado por el crecimiento de la economía, y daría alcance a otras manifestaciones del deteriorode la equidad que han sido atribuidas al narcotráfico. Un nexo de calado regional, considerando que allí la desigualdadse encuentra asociada al crecimiento económico y a las incautacionesde bienes al narcotráfico. Un reto para las políticaspúblicas, a juzgar por su inadecuado diseño y ambiguos resultados,tras el propósito de contener la riqueza de origencriminal y promover la economía legal.

In an intent to understand the economic significance and in-fluence of drug-trafficking on the concentration of income inColombia, this article estimates the magnitude of the repatriationof drug trade wealth (W) since the mid-1970s by takinginto account Repatriable Profits (RP) and their absorptionthrough Hidden Capital Flows (HCF), smuggling, tradepractices such as over-billing or under-billing, and foreign investmentfrom tax haven countries. The RPs are accountedfor by using production, prices, seizures and confiscations aswell as documented assumptions, while in the HCFs officialnational figures are compared with records of the rest of theworld and estimates according to theoretical fundamentals.Thus, W might explain the spike in income inequality, as controlledby economic growth, and would match other manifestationsof the deterioration in equity attributed to drugtrafficking. Therefore, it implies a nexus of regional importanceif we consider that inequality there is associated witheconomic growth and the confiscations of drug traffickers’assets; and, judging by their inadequate design and ambiguousresults, another challenge for public policies aimedat curbing criminally-acquired wealth and promoting lawfuleconomy.

Procura-se compreender a transcendência econômica donarcotráfico sobre a concentração da renda na Colômbia,e se considera a magnitude da riqueza do narcotráfico (W)desde meados da década dos setenta, considerando UtilidadesRepatriáveis (UR) e sua absorção por meio dos Fluxos deCapitais Encobertos (FCE), através do contrabando, a sobre/sobfaturação do comércio e o investimento estrangeiro originadoem paraísos fiscais. As UR calculam-se contabilmenteusando a informação disponível da produção, dos preços edos confiscos e supostos documentados, enquanto os FCEcontrastam números oficiais com registros do resto do mundoe dos estimativos de acordo com teóricos fundamentais.Assim, a W explicaria a ascensão na desigualdade da renda,controlada pelo crescimento da economia, e daria o alcancea outras manifestações da deterioração da equidade queforam atribuídas ao narcotráfico. Um nexo de influênciaregional, considerando que lá a desigualdade é associadaao crescimento econômico e às confiscações dos bens aonarcotráfico. Um desafio para as políticas públicas, a julgarpor seu desenho inadequado e resultados ambíguos, após aintenção de conter a riqueza da origem criminal e promovera economia legal.

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