The Tijuana cartel, as depicted, is representative of many organized crime operations around the world. Today, drugs are pushed by vicious crime groups from Colombia, Mexico, China, Russia, and elsewhere. They show no respect for borders, people, or governments, and they use modern communications technologies, the best intelligence techniques, and sophisticated weapons. Their prowess sobers even the best law enforcement agencies. The worst drug cartel problem is at our back door in Colombia.
Drug money corrupts many political, financial, and law and order institutions.
Meanwhile, our anti-drug efforts have taken a back seat to finance, trade, political alliances, and foreign policy. Yet the most poignant part of the movie is the plot line that approaches the drug crisis from a personal angle. Tragically and all too typically, Carolyn s problem is first exposed when she is arrested for drug use. During a family discussion, Carolyn s mom admits to having known for six months that her daughter was a user, but, having experimented with drugs herself as a youth, she thought such behavior to be expected. Carolyn slides from social drinking through marijuana and eventually to heroin.