Drug trafficking is primarily thought of as a problem for countries on the receiving end. The exchange of dollars for drugs remains one of the few predictable flows of hard currency from the North to the South. However, drug trafficking extracts a heavy price at both ends and this effect is particularly notable through the analysis of increased drug-related violence in every country of the Americas. The impact is most acute in countries struggling with development and governance and the effect is cyclic, drug trafficking weakens the rule of law which, in turn, facilitates more drug trafficking. Despite government efforts, virtually every country in the Americas is either affected by drug production, used as a transit country for trafficking, or imports drugs. The main drug of concern is cocaine, but heroin and cannabis are also in high demand. More recently, amphetamine-type substances, particularly methamphetamine and their precursors, have begun to affect the region. Each type of drug market has its own particular characteristics and related impacts in terms of violence, street gang activity, money laundering, trafficking in persons, and corruption. Figures and references