Students in this program are able to examine addictive substances as a global commodity, tracing their impact on issues of race, empire and inequality. While studying the opium warms of the 19th century into the narco violence in present-day Mexico, students have a better understanding of the various impacts of the drug trade on the modern world.

Students will have knowledge around issues of criminality and policing, how transnational flows of licit and illicit drugs shape how societies interact with each other and reveal persistent power imbalances. Students will be able to speak to the wide demographic of individuals who impact the global drug trade, including: imperial administrators, Colombian drug lords, CIA agents, Central American villagers, mafia dons and pharmaceutical sales reps.

Deliverables will vary depending on the scope of the partnership, and the needs of the organization. However, the deliverables will be discussed in length prior to the students starting the project.