In light of Ovidio Guzmán-López’s (son of drug lord El Chapo) somewhat recent violent arrest, we are once again reminded of the toll drug trafficking has taken on countless communities. With heaps of victims and grieving families left behind, it’s unfortunately only a minor event within a larger context. The Mexican war on drugs caused nearly 300,000 deaths in the years 2006-2020 and remains a bloody conflict to this day. There’s no need to worry though, you can enjoy epic accounts of the bad guys’ lawlessness, making it easy to forget about the horrors of the drug trade in real life.

Apparently, becoming a drug lord can give you a celebrity-like status, unattainable by most civilians. Joaquín Guzmán, commonly known as El Chapo, was the head of the Sinaloa cartel for years before his third (and current) incarceration. Guzmán was born into poverty and fearlessly worked his way to the top – managing a marijuana plantation at just 15 years old. His name can be recognized by a number of crowd-pleasers (see the works of Skrillex, Gucci Mane, 2 Chainz and others). Guzmán was interviewed for the Rolling Stone Magazine by none other than Sean Penn. And if that’s not enough, you could always watch the Netflix show El Chapo based on his exploits.

Treating notorious drug lords as if they were superstars is not a one-time occurrence. While some see mass-murdering narcoterrorists, others see badasses who stopped at nothing to enjoy their lavish lifestyles. Besides, some of them actively helped better their communities. Pablo Escobar, a drug lord from Medellín in Colombia, is credited to have built schools, churches, and hospitals for the poverty-stricken areas of his home town. These actions resulted in him becoming a local legend of sorts. For some, even considered a saint. In fact, if you ‘google’ the term “Saint Pablo Escobar,” you are likely to receive a number of paintings, t-shirts, and even puzzles with his face plastered across – and crowned with a halo. What did it cost to attain this status? “Only” 4000 lives. The inspiration behind the Netflix hit show Narcos, a number of pop songs, and multiple lines of merchandise is responsible for the murders of thousands. 

With all this in mind, I started to question my own morality. Personally, I wouldn’t wear a shirt with a smiling Pablo Escobar on it or buy a drink that directly funds the cartel. I would, however, watch a show about a chemistry teacher and his former student, who together cook the best meth Albuquerque has ever seen. Breaking Bad is not based on true events, and even if it were, you’d probably have a tough time believing it. Some of the plotlines are truly ridiculous and so hard to watch that they leave you grimacing. The main characters aren’t exactly ‘cool’ and don’t resemble the image of men like Pablo Escobar or El Chapo. Later on, (without risking spoiling the show for anyone) we see the men who actually do. I remember thinking: “this probably shouldn’t be so cool,” as some particularly violent altercation arose. But it was! The ‘real’ criminals seem emotionless, calm and collected at all times. You’ll never see them run or hurry, even as they escape exploding vehicles or physical altercations. Every move is calculated, and they’d do anything to protect or avenge each other. Although fictional, shows like these give a small glimpse into the reality of the drug war.

Has on-screen drug trafficking become a fad of the 21st century? Netflix hosts a number of shows on the topic – and they often become big hits. Does it have any consequences on how we view and treat drug lords in real life? Perhaps it’s dramatic to think of these shows as anything but entertainment. Most people can enjoy something while understanding that we aren’t supposed to be rooting for “the bad guys”. But then again, if we examine poverty-stricken areas, you’ll see that many young people’s representation of financial success is their local dealers. Representation is important, there’s no doubt about it. Without discouraging anyone from watching their favorite show, I still think it’s important to acknowledge the elephant in the room: does the drug lord have to be the coolest character on the show?