Remarkable journalistic narrative and it’s clear the authors cared deeply about the subjects and the importance of an accurate portrayal of the war on drugs. Much attention is placed on the failings of the state with less emphasis of the other player involved, namely an exploitative economic system/ideology propping up the state. From the early 1990s, the book is now dated but still holds value as a time capsule of the period. At times felt awkward that two white authors were adopting the slang/language of their subjects. I think the authors did this to portray the story in the words of their subjects but it also feels appropriative at times.