geograhy of use/abuse

[drminaq]

Hey all,
I am looking for your input about your location...tell me about the collective conscious/prevailing neurosis of your environment. Do you believe that this contributes to the type of drug use/abuse that is most popular?
For example, why is it that when I think of Southern California, I think of Tweekers combing beaches for shiny objects (sic) where as the thought of Montreal invokes images of the soulless search for the next fix of IV coke. I guess I am curious do I project these steorotypes myself or is there really something worth while in investigating further in this link beyond merely what is available or affordable. I am also curious to hear why.
I mean no harm using these stereotypes, I personally love hitting the beach with a metal detector nor can i decide if i actually have a soul myself. I do however need to come up with a good thesis for a research study and need to know if I am getting into dangerous territory. I thank all for your help.

 

[OpiYum]

I think u pose an interesting question, but a highly subjective one as well. I believe that my own neurosis affects what I choose to observe and what to filter. I think there may be data as to the prevalence of certain types of drugs in certain areas, but I cannot read into others' neuroses. People are stressed, sick (mentally and physically), and need a way to escape the pain everywhere.

I have seen people with mental detectors in southern CA and never thought of Tweekers bc I had not identified myself as a drug addict then (except for psychedelic RCs occasionally). I remember smiling and talking to many of them and never detecting a tweeker mentality and I had previously smoked/sniffed methamphetamine occasionally. I am only bringing this up to show u that this is very subjective.

 

[Rogue Robot]

homeless -> TDS

 

[paranoid android]

Well where i live in a certain atlantic canadaian city located on a island cocaine, booze, opiates and weed are probably the most popular drugs. Benzos such as temazepam, diazepam, nitrazepam and clonazepam are also fairly popular. Cocaine and crack really took off about 10 years back and so did prescription opiates. I wouldnt be surprised if heroin starts making a bigger apperance here due to new pharmacy regulations making it harder to double doctor.

Some of the choice of drugs has to do with the overall atmosphere of the place. Poverty, hopelessness, bad weather and just boredom play a big part. Id say this is especially true in the case of alcohol where it is perfectly acceptable to drink your days away so they pass faster and arent as boring or depressing. The same goes for downers really.

As for coke it's a quick easy escape and makes things more cheerful for some people so i can understand why so many people here got hooked on the stuff. Personally coke as well as amphetamine fuel my sense of discontentment as often as they cheer me up so there not good drugs for escaping the drudgery of everyday life for me. They tend to bring all the shit into crystal clear focus which isint good when your life feels like shit at the moment.

 

[lasthurrah19]

south florida:

prescription opiates, and around ft lauderdale + miami, also heroin. kids starting in middle school with weed and pills. rich and middle class families that look perfect but really are rampant with mental illness and drug abuse. ghettos on one block and mansions on the next, everyone taking the same drugs. i'd say roxycodone and xanax are the most prevalent. there is also coke and crack of course, but I haven't really seen it that much. might just be me though, since I prefer downers. I have done coke probably around 30 times, though, but not in the last 2 1/2 years or so. just as a note, i've never even seen or been offered methamphetamine - and only adderal a few times. i'm sure it's here, but i think it has a niche that i never got into.

but, yeah. lots and lots of pills.

 

[Sweet P]

I live in a city in New Zealand. Meth and weed seem to be the most common drugs here... there's always articles in the newspapers about how some meth lab or weed house has been busted. Usually in the poor/dodgy areas. I live in a new suburb with my parents and have never encountered drugs in it - I always had to go to other parts of town to score. I wouldn't be surprised if I'm the only meth addict in the suburb!

 

[unsettled]

I live Southern California and it seems like all drugs are available here, really I can't think of any drug that isn't available in abundant quantities if you know where to look. I don't really hang out with my "addict" friends too much anymore, so I don't see the street drugs as much as I used to but I could get them fairly easily. Weed is everywhere and almost seems legal here.

 

[bagochina]

geographical cures...

I have lived all over and heroin was my staple. I tried to run away many times but EVERYWHERE I went it was there. Vermont/New Hamp, NYC, Colorado, Cali, Chicago, Florida, you name it. Opiates are everywhere. I was younger when I was moving around and I never really wanted to get clean but I completely wanted to be not strung out. Never happened. I eventually kicked back in chi town and everywhere I looked there were drugs everwhere. Tonight I saw some kid I go to NA meetings with asking me if I want to ride around in his car and smoke up a ball. Errrr not happening.

West coast was tar and speed and people I didnt relate to but I was to fuct up to care. Tweakers thats one thing I am glad hasnt hit chicago, its here trust me but not like elsewhere. More speed scripts or gay guys and meth. Whatever you want is here and probably 20 mins tops.

peace.
seedless