In 2006, the former president of Mexico, Felipe Calderon, launched a massive offensive against drug trafficking organizations. Since then, more than 40,000 Mexicans have been killed in drug-related violence (“Mexican Drug War”). Currently, people are being killed in Mexico and violence is increasing due to the war on drugs. Mexico's "war on drugs" refers to government actions against powerful drug trafficking cartels that terrorize the Mexican people. The situation in Mexico has become increasingly violent since 2006 after President Felipe Calderon declared war on Mexico (Murphy). pay the consequences because innocent people die and the cartels recruit teenagers. There are many cartels operating in Mexico; and La Familial Michoacana (“The War Against the Mexican Cartel”). Here I'll talk about four of the most prominent Mexican cartels. The most dangerous Mexican cartels were formed by army commandos like Los Zetas and the Gulf Cartel. Los Zetas' role is to be the primary organization responsible for most of the homicides and for taxing drug businesses beyond their reach. The U.S. government claims that Los Zetas is the most technologically advanced, sophisticated and dangerous cartel operating in Mexico (los-zetas). The Gulf Cartel was once the elite military wing of Los Zetas, but in an example of intra-cartel rivalry and violence, the two aggressively fight over overlapping territories. The Gulf Cartel is struggling to maintain its territory on the east coast of Mexico and is increasingly becoming...... middle of paper ...... war or loss of family. In fact, thousands of children have been orphaned in the past four years (Teenagers are rapidly rising the ranks in Mexico's drug war). The violence of the drug war has become commonplace in the daily lives of children in many parts of Mexico. In some areas of Mexico, teenagers cannot go out night or day; they must remain very attentive, listen to the gunshots and watch for the kidnappers. Many people die and pay the consequences of violence between drug cartels. Drug cartels formed when the Colombian cartels were forced out of business and the Mexican cartels were able to take control of the drug trade. Following Felipe Calderon's warning, the cartels reacted by unleashing a wave of violence. 857,000 teenagers are involved in drug cartels. People should talk to others about what is happening in Mexico.