President Fernando Henrique Cardoso has suffered through shifts in popularity and difficulties in the Congress. Key reforms have had to be postponed due to weak support. Also, large scale corruption schemes involving top politicians and judges have been uncovered, adding to the difficulties of Congress to focus on reform projects. In recent years, gains have been achieved on important social indicators. Basic education levels have improved and the average life expectancy increased to 67 years in 1998.
Brazilian society struggles with high rates of violence and tension.
Brazil is not a traditional cultivation country for coca bush and opium poppy, but the country does cultivate a significant amount of cannabis for its domestic market. Over the last two decades, trafficking of cocaine into and through Brazil has increased steadily, pushed by increasing domestic demand and good transport infrastructure. The organized crime groups involved with drug trafficking also find the modern financial system, including banking secrecy, attractive to launder their illicit proceeds. Drug abuse among the Brazilian population, and its youth in particular, has increased significantly over the last decade. A fourfold increase of cocaine consumption among adolescents has shown it is a growing problem.