Russia's top drug official Viktor Ivanov is pressuring the the United States into destroying to opium fields in Afghanistan. It is estimated that 30,000 Russians die every year from drug use, 90 of the heroin used is Afghan heroin. Heroin flows easily through the Russian borders. This request comes just at a time of policy change in the United States. The Obama Administration is moving away the methods of Bush and his administration. Many favor this tactic, but other oppose it because it would have devastating social and economic effects. Some fear it would turn the people toward the Taliban this argument has made the Obama Administration to seek other methods of trying to put a stop to the Taliban.

Works Cited

Barry, Ellen. The New York Times. Russia, plagued by heroin use, to press U.S. to destroy Afghan poppy crops. September 22, 2009

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/23/world/europe/23russia.html