We need to fight drugs to reduce violence.

Brazil continues to be one of the most violent countries on the planet. In the span of a year, more people were killed on our territory than in any other world conflict. Only the numbers from World War II surpass the deaths that are reflected in the appalling statistics in our country annually.

Undoubtedly, drugs are the most perverse ingredient in this carnage. They are responsible for the rise in crime rates, including various types of crimes. Beyond their devastating effect, capable of generating more violence, they annihilate the dreams and destroy the future of our youth.

Brazil, a country of continental dimensions, has faced serious difficulties in curbing the entry of drugs such as cocaine. Due to its more than seventeen thousand kilometers of borders, considerable investments in our security forces are necessary. In addition to issues such as increasing personnel and essential professional development, we cannot forget the need to acquire high-tech equipment appropriate for combating trafficking in these areas.

The armed forces, which are being neglected by democratic governments, also urgently need investment! The current salaries of the military are insignificant. The figures shown on their paychecks are shameful, demonstrating the government's complete lack of respect for members of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. As for equipment, it's best not to even talk about it, as most of it is outdated.

The combined efforts of federal security institutions and the armed forces are undeniably capable of producing excellent results for society. For this reason, everyone wants strong and valued institutions. While this doesn't happen, the insecurity situation becomes increasingly worrying. Drugs are spreading rapidly everywhere, motivating phenomena such as the internalization of crime and adding countless drug addicts to the streets and homes. This is terrifying for families.

Being close to countries like Bolivia, Paraguay, Venezuela, Peru, and Colombia demands that governments make more judicious choices regarding their priorities. If it is not clear that restructuring the security forces and the armed forces to prohibit the entry of drugs into the country is imperative, we will be jeopardizing the future.

Brazil cannot cling solely to the economic data that elevate it to the category of a rich country. It is pointless to be the fifth largest economy in the world with the appalling records of crack cocaine use, homicides, and other catastrophic information we have today. The country must find ways to move out of its eighty-fourth position in terms of the Human Development Index (HDI) and occupy a prominent place in these comparisons.

It's no longer possible to listen to speeches that only address trade relations, protectionism, and financial symbols, detached from concern about what is truly tormenting the Brazilian people. The country has become a powder keg. Crack cocaine has spread by 700% in the last four years; crime has taken over the interior, and deaths occur routinely. The situation is extremely serious!

There are many public policies that need to be implemented for us to reach first-world status. Various sectors lack effective actions, but regarding security and the fight against drugs, measures have become urgent. We've hit rock bottom.

Equipping the country with an educational system that offers our children and adolescents a quality education; raising awareness among our youth about the harms caused by drugs, incorporating content on the subject into relevant disciplines; providing our fellow citizens with dignified working conditions; and structuring public health to care for and rehabilitate drug addicts are all essential procedures. However, we cannot neglect what actually causes all the problems. We must act efficiently against drug traffickers and rapidly reduce drug consumption in the country.

Mendonça Prado is a lawyer, vice-president of the Public Security and Combating Organized Crime Commission, and vice-president of the Democrats party.