Race/Economic status
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 321
Race/Economic status
Do you guys think race or economic status has something to do with drug usage?
My alcoholic, weed smoking, coke sniffing, pill popping husband thinks that cocaine is considered the "rich man's" drug.
We're black in a lower middle class area. We don't live in the inner city although that's where he usually gets his drugs. And it seems that most people in the inner city do drugs.
All of my white friends don't do ANY type of drug. However, most of my black friends at least smoke marijuana.
Do you think it makes a difference?
My alcoholic, weed smoking, coke sniffing, pill popping husband thinks that cocaine is considered the "rich man's" drug.
We're black in a lower middle class area. We don't live in the inner city although that's where he usually gets his drugs. And it seems that most people in the inner city do drugs.
All of my white friends don't do ANY type of drug. However, most of my black friends at least smoke marijuana.
Do you think it makes a difference?
Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: CA
Posts: 63
no, I live in Sacramento CA and drug usesage is probably worse in lower class enviroments, I mean I can get coc or weed no problem at all. Those 2 drugs are the easiest to find. White people do it, Black people, hispanic, whatever... race plays no part in doing and affording drugs, if they can't afford it they steal stuff from people to sell to get the drugs... doesn't matter drugs are everywhere.
Don't get undies in a bunch
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: South Shore MA
Posts: 7,120
Originally Posted by Yesterdaysnumb 
... economic status has something to do with drug usage?
My alcoholic, weed smoking, coke sniffing, pill popping husband thinks that cocaine is considered the "rich man's" drug.
My alcoholic, weed smoking, coke sniffing, pill popping husband thinks that cocaine is considered the "rich man's" drug.
Now as for how people get the money... Even a lawyer I had used in the past is under indictment because he was swindling people out of their houses and their money.
NO matter what the economic status of a person is...drugs will have them use up all they have so they can use up all they buy.
Drug addiction is an equal opportunity employer. It will hire anyone that wants to give it a try.
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: S.E. Mich.
Posts: 1,433
No. Addiction is not picky, choosy, or discriminate. I knew a guy, (he's dead now) who used to drink rubbing alcohol because it was what he could afford. I knew some others who dumped alot of loot into synthetics and such.
We all went to the same meetings, and talked about the same stuff, even though we all have different background, upbringing, and status.
Addiction doesn't care about any of that stuff.
We all went to the same meetings, and talked about the same stuff, even though we all have different background, upbringing, and status.
Addiction doesn't care about any of that stuff.
Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: colorado springs
Posts: 123
I think that certain drugs (esp crack and heroin) - cheap drugs - are certainly targeted and marketed to lower-income peoples.
I dont think, though, that it makes one bit of difference if you are a homeless person or a successful professional though, once you try something, to become addicted to it. Drugs go across all gender/racial/socio-economic classes, and do so with amazing indiscrimination.
Saw a great flick on HBO, I think, this weekend, called "American Drug War, the Last White Hope" which went in-depth into reasons/motives of the drug epidemic in our country, and who the key players were in certain drugs coming into the U.S., and who was cooking stuff up here, and how crack and heroin got their rootws into our people.
It also brilliantly analyzed why the system is set up to to keep the "status quo" in regards to who is using, and how many- why the privatized prison-building companies want to keep non-violent drug-offenders behind bars as their stock's potential is based upon how many people are in prison at a given time.
There is another great question to discuss along these lines: should non-violent drug offenders be treated as criminals or patients?
I dont think, though, that it makes one bit of difference if you are a homeless person or a successful professional though, once you try something, to become addicted to it. Drugs go across all gender/racial/socio-economic classes, and do so with amazing indiscrimination.
Saw a great flick on HBO, I think, this weekend, called "American Drug War, the Last White Hope" which went in-depth into reasons/motives of the drug epidemic in our country, and who the key players were in certain drugs coming into the U.S., and who was cooking stuff up here, and how crack and heroin got their rootws into our people.
It also brilliantly analyzed why the system is set up to to keep the "status quo" in regards to who is using, and how many- why the privatized prison-building companies want to keep non-violent drug-offenders behind bars as their stock's potential is based upon how many people are in prison at a given time.
There is another great question to discuss along these lines: should non-violent drug offenders be treated as criminals or patients?
*Grateful*
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Midwest
Posts: 2,619
While I do think that certain drugs may be more popular in certain areas, I do think the use and abuse is across the board.
It may just appear that way in poorer neighborhoods cuz it is more visible. The kids are exposed on the streets and through TV or movies and then they become addicts while their richer peers between soccer practice and baseball games are busting in their parents alcohol cabinets and prescription drug bottles. So while I think you may SEE more drug use going on in poorer neighborhoods cuz it is on the streets, I think the richer areas of kids may just hide it better.
I also think there is a lot of denial going on with richer folks too cuz their drug use can be masked longer. I have a sister who I am convinced is a prescription drug addict, but she has all the comforts of a nice home and stays home etc...so her problem perhaps isn't hitting a hard enough problem like others would elsewhere?
Why was I so compulsive when I have 2 parents who only moderately drink? Why are my sister and I addicts?
Lots of questions.....lots to think about. I don't think the hiding leads to a faster bottom though....I don't know if my parents always were so HELPFUL to me in the cover up and what will the neighbors think mentality....
I am glad I am in recovery though!
Good post...
It may just appear that way in poorer neighborhoods cuz it is more visible. The kids are exposed on the streets and through TV or movies and then they become addicts while their richer peers between soccer practice and baseball games are busting in their parents alcohol cabinets and prescription drug bottles. So while I think you may SEE more drug use going on in poorer neighborhoods cuz it is on the streets, I think the richer areas of kids may just hide it better.
I also think there is a lot of denial going on with richer folks too cuz their drug use can be masked longer. I have a sister who I am convinced is a prescription drug addict, but she has all the comforts of a nice home and stays home etc...so her problem perhaps isn't hitting a hard enough problem like others would elsewhere?
Why was I so compulsive when I have 2 parents who only moderately drink? Why are my sister and I addicts?
Lots of questions.....lots to think about. I don't think the hiding leads to a faster bottom though....I don't know if my parents always were so HELPFUL to me in the cover up and what will the neighbors think mentality....
I am glad I am in recovery though!
Good post...
Om, Aum, Ohm...
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Punxsutawney/Pittsburgh
Posts: 4,797
I think it's complicated, and I do believe that addiction is a very democratic condition, striking all economic levels and all races (though there is data that points to some races being more susceptible -- such as Native Americans). It does seem that the drug problem is worse in inner cities, and more specifically, within the poor, black community.
A lot of recovering addicts will share their feelings of being different, ineffective, without hope. A friend of mine who's nearing 20 years as a recovering heroin addict, and who was born to a heroin-addicted woman in Harlem during a very turbulent time in America and raised by his grandmother, talks of pimps and drug dealers as the only role models he had to follow. We like to think that every class of people in America are given the same chances, but having been born into a poor and not-quite-white family of blue-collar alcoholics, I was expected to maintain the status quo; there were no dance lessons, no girl scouts, no sports and no talk of college for me. I was expected to marry some hard-working, blue-collar man who wasn't too full of himself and stay at home to make babies. If he stayed out late or knocked me around a bit, well, that was all part of it.
I'm all about breaking cycles. I won't lay the entire responsibility of breaking those cycles on the shoulders of the poor black communities. Educators, policy makers, activists, philosophers, religious leaders, community leaders, social workers all have a part to play in it, but essentially, and this is my opinion, until we improve both the forest and the trees, until we find some sort of spiritual direction (not religious -- I'm not talking about everybody finding Jesus) and purpose, we'll continue to tear ourselves and others apart and watch as others do the same.
Sorry about the rant -- but you hit a nerve.
Peace & Love,
Sugah
A lot of recovering addicts will share their feelings of being different, ineffective, without hope. A friend of mine who's nearing 20 years as a recovering heroin addict, and who was born to a heroin-addicted woman in Harlem during a very turbulent time in America and raised by his grandmother, talks of pimps and drug dealers as the only role models he had to follow. We like to think that every class of people in America are given the same chances, but having been born into a poor and not-quite-white family of blue-collar alcoholics, I was expected to maintain the status quo; there were no dance lessons, no girl scouts, no sports and no talk of college for me. I was expected to marry some hard-working, blue-collar man who wasn't too full of himself and stay at home to make babies. If he stayed out late or knocked me around a bit, well, that was all part of it.
I'm all about breaking cycles. I won't lay the entire responsibility of breaking those cycles on the shoulders of the poor black communities. Educators, policy makers, activists, philosophers, religious leaders, community leaders, social workers all have a part to play in it, but essentially, and this is my opinion, until we improve both the forest and the trees, until we find some sort of spiritual direction (not religious -- I'm not talking about everybody finding Jesus) and purpose, we'll continue to tear ourselves and others apart and watch as others do the same.
Sorry about the rant -- but you hit a nerve.
Peace & Love,
Sugah
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Baghdad
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Originally Posted by peachy1005
There is another great question to discuss along these lines: should non-violent drug offenders be treated as criminals or patients?
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Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: cape cod
Posts: 2,320
Tired put it pretty simply. I think an addict is going to use, no matter, race, economic status, whatever. I do, however think what and addict uses is somewhat based on economic status and availability. But certainly not race.
And you mentioned you don't see white middle class suburban people running around high on drugs. Bet my neighbors never thought so, either, lol.
And you mentioned you don't see white middle class suburban people running around high on drugs. Bet my neighbors never thought so, either, lol.
Mr.MeToo?
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: East Coast to the Deep South
Posts: 828
in my opinion, being an upper middle class whiteboy. i think rich kids do a lot more drugs and a lot more frequent use than poor kids. This may be a stereo type but it seems like all the poor kids having grown up with addict parents and such realize the dangers of drug use and what it will do to them so they steer clear from it. And rich kids like myself make the stupid assumption that we cant get addicted (LOL!!!)
Whenever i was partying it was always with rich white kids, drinking in the benz's and shootin dope in hotels.
Whenever i was partying it was always with rich white kids, drinking in the benz's and shootin dope in hotels.
Om, Aum, Ohm...
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Punxsutawney/Pittsburgh
Posts: 4,797
I misspoke. I should have said, "drugs are more visible and perhaps more prevalent in poor, predominantly black inner city communities."
I am a firm believer that addiction is pretty democratic, with some exceptions (I'm Native American - we lack enzymes that break down alcohol, and therefore are more susceptible to alcoholism). This is a substance abuse forum, not strictly an addiction forum, so if we're talking generically about drug problems and not just addiction problems, then I think it's fair to address the drug problem as one affected by societal and economic conditions.
Thing is, a large part of this country (I realize that not all who contribute here are Americans) likes to point fingers at different races/cultures and place blame, forgetting that we have not exactly evolved into an equal and homogenous society over the last fifty years. We like to think that we have, that all things and all opportunities are available to everyone, and maybe, if we keep prying open doors that have been thus far closed to certain people and encouraging our children to walk through them, that just might happen. I'm just saying that it's not that way today.
I have hope.
I try to keep my sharing here geared towards recovery, and I tend to shy away from subjects that lend themselves to debate -- especially politics -- but I believe this does have to do with recovery, on a larger scale. I won't get into any "I'm right and you're wrong" debate because I think we all have important things to say. I just wanted to clarify that I wasn't trying to characterize the drug problem as a black problem.
Peace & Love,
Sugah
I am a firm believer that addiction is pretty democratic, with some exceptions (I'm Native American - we lack enzymes that break down alcohol, and therefore are more susceptible to alcoholism). This is a substance abuse forum, not strictly an addiction forum, so if we're talking generically about drug problems and not just addiction problems, then I think it's fair to address the drug problem as one affected by societal and economic conditions.
Thing is, a large part of this country (I realize that not all who contribute here are Americans) likes to point fingers at different races/cultures and place blame, forgetting that we have not exactly evolved into an equal and homogenous society over the last fifty years. We like to think that we have, that all things and all opportunities are available to everyone, and maybe, if we keep prying open doors that have been thus far closed to certain people and encouraging our children to walk through them, that just might happen. I'm just saying that it's not that way today.
I have hope.
I try to keep my sharing here geared towards recovery, and I tend to shy away from subjects that lend themselves to debate -- especially politics -- but I believe this does have to do with recovery, on a larger scale. I won't get into any "I'm right and you're wrong" debate because I think we all have important things to say. I just wanted to clarify that I wasn't trying to characterize the drug problem as a black problem.
Peace & Love,
Sugah
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Toronto
Posts: 381
Do you guys think race or economic status has something to do with drug usage?
My alcoholic, weed smoking, coke sniffing, pill popping husband thinks that cocaine is considered the "rich man's" drug.
We're black in a lower middle class area. We don't live in the inner city although that's where he usually gets his drugs. And it seems that most people in the inner city do drugs.
All of my white friends don't do ANY type of drug. However, most of my black friends at least smoke marijuana.
Do you think it makes a difference?
My alcoholic, weed smoking, coke sniffing, pill popping husband thinks that cocaine is considered the "rich man's" drug.
We're black in a lower middle class area. We don't live in the inner city although that's where he usually gets his drugs. And it seems that most people in the inner city do drugs.
All of my white friends don't do ANY type of drug. However, most of my black friends at least smoke marijuana.
Do you think it makes a difference?
Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Terminus, GA
Posts: 522
Opinions aside, there have been many studies on that topic, including:
PREVALENCE OF SUBSTANCE USE AMONG RACIAL AND ETHNIC SUBGROUPS I ethn1.htm
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PREVALENCE OF SUBSTANCE USE AMONG RACIAL AND ETHNIC SUBGROUPS I ethn1.htm
Buzz
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