Drug use and social class in England

[tjeff]

I'm very curious about the link between drug use and social class in England.

I'm a native of Australia (though I also have a British passport as my Dad was born here) and I moved here a few years ago. I got onto methadone about ten years ago, then buprenorphine and was still on it when I moved to London. Because drugs are so cheap here compared to Australia, I was almost like a kid in a candy store and predictably I relapsed.

What I found interesting was that quite a few people I've met in my dealings with others when scoring heroin or in other situations, have commented that I don't seem the type, that I'm a "bit too posh" to use heroin. I'm from an upper-middle class background, I dress well. I don't use crack, only heroin. I realise heroin has a reputation as being a very hard drug (the worst of the worst, in some people's eyes), but I didn't realise before I relapsed here that my background / the way I came across would be so worthy of comment. That didn't seem the case in Australia. Here I wouldn't be surprised if I earn more / have more money than my dealer, whereas that would almost never be the case back home.

Oddly enough, the drug scene back home did seem more intimidating, the guys involved were genuinely pretty hard and I tended to watch myself. Whereas here the scene seems a lot friendlier

Anyway, I thought I'd throw it out there in case anyone is interested in commenting. I know it's an odd area and not really related to the more straightforward, quantitative character of a lot of the threads but would be keen to see others' opinions and perspectives

 

[mydrugbuddy]

I think it depends on how you define social class; broadly speaking, i think most users of this forum are pretty well educated and well informed, which is arguably one 'measure' or 'yardstick' of being middle class. Of course that's not saying that working class people such as myself cant be semi educated etc. Perhaps a good proportion are middle class but a lot are working class and proud of it too.

I guess you need to know a country at more than a superficial level before you can understand its' class structure and differences. I thought countries like Australia were meant to be 'classless' but clearly not, you lot have your Bogans and all that to contend with. Where do all the "whinging poms" fit into things over there i wonder

There was an EADD 'debate' on social class a while ago: http://www.bluelight.org/vb/threads/714010-Class-The-Great-EADD-Debate

 

[tjeff]

I guess you need to know a country at more than a superficial level before you can understand its' class structure and differences. I thought countries like Australia were meant to be 'classless' but clearly not, you lot have your Bogans and all that to contend with. Where do all the "whinging poms" fit into things over there i wonder

Australia isn't a classless society, but its class structure is a hell of a lot flatter than Britain's.

Just as a pre-amble to what I'm about to say, I feel I've had a marvellous overview of this country's class system in the time I've lived here as I've worked in higher education (traditionally a middle class profession) but the student body and location was very working class. I also live in a working class part of London with a fascinating mix (Nigerians, Turks, Chinese and also traditional white working class). I've been involved in the Labour Party in my area, and also in the trade union where I work. And my ex-boyfriend was an Old Etonian, Oxford graduate son of a baronet. And I've had a fair degree of contact with the gentry because I'm into riding and shooting.

So... the difference between Australia and Britain is that in Britain the different classes could almost be completely distinct ethno-cultural entities. For maximum contrast, comparing the upper (aristo and gentry) vs working class. They speak differently, they have different shibboleths and lingo, they eat different sorts of food (think organic pesto fettucine cooked on an Aga vs pie and mash or the chicken shop), they have different attitudes to alcohol, they are educated in different ways (prep and public schools, boarding vs the comprehensive) and go to different universities, they follow different sports (cricket, rugby vs football and dogging), they do different types of work (the bar, the city, architecture, medicine, academia vs everything else), they go on holiday to different places (south of France, Italy, America, Australia vs Ibiza, Tenerife, Costa del Sol) they drive different types of cars and they even have different pets (a black labrador vs a pit bull).

They are just so different, and you can usually tell fairly quickly after meeting someone where they sit in that class matrix. It is so much more pronounced here compared to anywhere else I've been. In Australia the accent isn't really as accurate a predictor. But middle class also means something different; there's no "working class" really, everyone is considered middle class (or upper-middle or underclass, the latter two being quite rare). And there's no profound difference between middle and upper-middle in terms of all those categories I mentioned. And entry to the rarefied climes of the Australian upper-middle is solely based on money, whereas here money can't buy you membership of the upper class, you can only inherit it. It doesn't even necessarily make you middle class; oftentimes working-class people will continue to identify thus even after making a tonne of money or going to university.

In Australia, working class Brits quite comfortably fall into the middle-class like everyone else. Upper and upper-middle class Brits comfortably fit in with upper-middle class Australians (no one would be called upper class, or aristocratic)

The more fundamental difference I've noticed comparing Aus and Britain is that in Australia there is a degree of anti-intellectualism, intelligent or cultural people are suspect, it can be quite parochial, but the upside is that it is much more egalitarian. In Britain, eccentricity is respected and intellect is no bad thing at all; the flipside is that it can be quite snobby

Thanks for the link to the other thread btw, I'll check it out

 

[THECATINTHEHAT]

The 'scene' might seem a lot friendlier here, but that's only because you probably never deal with anyone above a runner who isn't even a street dealer, just delivering for someone else.

Heroin use certainly stretches across all classes from the royal family to street junkies, but on the whole you will definitely stand out if you are upper-middle class and scoring on the street (or from street level dealers). You would probably do well to learn to blend in a bit if you don't want to get burnt, especially if you've got it in your head that the smack scene is friendly.

Also, dogging is something very very different from greyhound racing over here. I'll let you do the googling

 

[felix]

I'm very curious about the link between drug use and social class in England.

Can the rest of us join in too?

Interesting thread.

 

[Waterfall]

Australia isn't a classless society, but its class structure is a hell of a lot flatter than Britain's.

...

So... the difference between Australia and Britain is that in Britain the different classes could almost be completely distinct ethno-cultural entities.

I think you've hit the nail on the head regarding Britain's class structure: "poshness" in terms of cultural affectations/connections are probably more important here in determining someone's "social class" than income is, since most Brits grow up in an environment in which they never interact with people of a different social class, and hence absorb the cultural values of whatever class they are born into.

I think in a sense that may feed into what you say about the drug scene seeming a lot less "harsh" / "more intimidating" than in Aus. It's almost like being a drug user in Britain puts you into a separate social category/alternative social class, since, unlike most Brits, you end up interacting with a broader range of people. Therefore noone will blink at the idea of an upper-middle class person such as myself dabbling with heroin because users share a common bond which cuts across class boundaries, which is very rare in British society.

I would also agree with catinthehat regarding being careful about context and who you deal with. Like I say, most dealers in Britain are pretty non-judgemental but there may be occassional cunts who try and expolit your perceived background to rip you off. Again, really interesting thread.

 

[tjeff]

I think you've hit the nail on the head regarding Britain's class structure: "poshness" in terms of cultural affectations/connections are probably more important here in determining someone's "social class" than income is, since most Brits grow up in an environment in which they never interact with people of a different social class, and hence absorb the cultural values of whatever class they are born into

Absolutely. It's like a form of social apartheid. Sometimes I think if the working and underclass knew and internalised how well the upper and upper-middle live, there'd be a revolution. Part of the reason I'm involved in labour politics here

I think in a sense that may feed into what you say about the drug scene seeming a lot less "harsh" / "more intimidating" than in Aus. It's almost like being a drug user in Britain puts you into a separate social category/alternative social class, since, unlike most Brits, you end up interacting with a broader range of people. Therefore noone will blink at the idea of an upper-middle class person such as myself dabbling with heroin because users share a common bond which cuts across class boundaries, which is very rare in British society.

I do also think one of the distinctions is that in Australia, dealing heroin is extremely lucrative compared to here. When you compare the price of a gram of heroin in Australia vs the UK, thugs tend to get involved right down to the level of street dealing in Aus because there is so much money to be made. The guys I've seen here don't strike me as that different from the kind of people who sell pot

I would also agree with catinthehat regarding being careful about context and who you deal with. Like I say, most dealers in Britain are pretty non-judgemental but there may be occassional cunts who try and expolit your perceived background to rip you off. Again, really interesting thread

Fair points, though my experience about the comments on me "not looking the type" were more when I first arrived and didn't know where to score (hence did the old "go and wait outside a methadone clinic" trick to find a source). I'm so familiar with the guys I see for different things, have had them for a couple of years now, that my differentness is something that's blended into the background by now. Oddly enough I think the guys I see actually enjoy the fact I'm a bit different to their usual clientele because it adds a bit of colour to the proceedings. You can see how much pop culture around the drug trade has influenced their thinking and that they are almost playing at being in the A-league in their own mind; occasionally seeing a guy who is from a different sort of background and isn't hassling them for a couple of bags must be helpful in that respect

And despite my background, I would hasten to add I'm no spring chicken. I'm around 30 now, and I've been doing this for a long time now. Shockingly, I first tried IV heroin when I was 15 and so I've seen and heard it all. But I take your points on board

 

[tjeff]

Can the rest of us join in too?

Interesting thread.

Sure, Scots, Irish and Welsh most welcome as well I mentioned England because I can only comment on that from experience, but very happy to hear of all experiences

 

[tjeff]

The 'scene' might seem a lot friendlier here, but that's only because you probably never deal with anyone above a runner who isn't even a street dealer, just delivering for someone else.

That's fine by me. I really don't have any interest in getting involved at any other level, I'm totally aware the guy I speak to on the phone is not the same as the guy I actually see in person. Heroin is so cheap here I can afford to pay for it with what I earn in a fairly middle-of-the-road job, so I have every incentive to minimise the degree to which I get involved with more people or know more about the local scene

And I think that actually might have something to do with it. There is a much greater degree of criminality (in terms of involving people who are involved in violent forms of criminality, organised crime, etc) in the Australian scene purely as a function how just how expensive it is there, how much money it takes to support a habit, and how much money can be made (and on that last point, it means organised criminals squeeze out the gentler sorts more amateur sorts, it doesn't seem to be the case here)

Heroin use certainly stretches across all classes from the royal family to street junkies, but on the whole you will definitely stand out if you are upper-middle class and scoring on the street (or from street level dealers). You would probably do well to learn to blend in a bit if you don't want to get burnt, especially if you've got it in your head that the smack scene is friendly.

I think you've got hold of the wrong end of the stick entirely. It's not really possible to hide my accent. Sometimes I have dressed down a bit if I was trying to get hold of a source when I didn't have any, that made sense. I didn't go around saying things like "My dear fellow, it's quite marvellous to see you. And your heroin is most excellent, tally ho, what what". It's more that I wear nice clothes and my accent was identifiably not working-class / drug argot.

More pertinently I've had the same few sources for about two years now. I'm not going around seeing someone new every time and having to hope he doesn't rip me off. I've also been involved in this stuff for about 15 years now, so I'm no spring chicken.

Also, dogging is something very very different from greyhound racing over here. I'll let you do the googling

Haha my tongue was lodged firmly in my cheek when I mentioned dogging as being a working class sport. I know it means having sex in/on cars in meeting areas

 

[tjeff]

Oh and one thing about class and drug use, do any of you remember the Tetrapak billionaires who were using heroin and crack? What I found shocking about that was some of the pictures showed them to be very scruffy indeed; it was confusing for me because I always felt that simply being a heroin user wouldn't mean I would stop washing and eating properly, etc. OF course, felt very sad for the husband to lose his wife like that

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02294/hans-rausing-2_2294154b.jpg

 

[blondin]

When i first started using in the 80's my peer group were all ex public school boys - some with titles, it was a new 'thing' brown heroin and we were all at it but they all stopped after a few years and I didn't , not a class thing it's that i love the stuff tooo much : )
I get looked at sometimes if im with someone and we drive to meet a dealer as i dont look like a typical user, for one thing im quite old and im not unkempt but neither are the very few people who i use/score with. Drugs cross all social barriers and i have scored and used with both ends of the spectrum cos at the end of the day 'we' all have one thing in common no hit means you get sick.
Re the tetra pak folk it was the crack that fucked them up- remember the pic's of whitney? you have a long run on that and nothing else is in your head apart from the next lick.