A Short Ethnography of One Community’s Drug Problem

My intent here is to present a brief summary of daily ethnographic field work at a community site where non-addictive stimulants are distributed. 

This particular site is located inside a repurposed warehouse. Those seeking to purchase stimulants are spread across the age spectrum, but a majority are white. They seem to exhibit no shame visiting the site, and make little effort to hide their habit from friends and family members. 

The distribution process is efficient and sophisticated. As in other businesses, technology has advanced the sellers’ ability to coordinate, communicate, and reach new customers. 

Drug seekers can pay differential fees for different quantities and “flavors” of stimulant. A small hit averages between $3 and $5, while a more elaborate mixture with more active ingredient might run $7 or $8. Despite being non-addictive, the site has many repeat customers, some of whom have been known to come multiple times per day. Many claim they “need” what the site provides before heading into work or taking their children to school - signaling the severity and scope of dependence. Some take large quantities of the stimulant home and spread out their usage over multiple days. They claim preparing the drugs themselves is cheaper and more convenient than coming in for a daily hit. 

Indeed, an entire subculture exists around those who seek out this particular stimulant - replete with its own inside jokes, vernacular, and alleged “lifestyle.” The site provides wearable items with symbols representing the provider of the drugs. They serve a similar function to the site’s visitors as tattoos do for gang members - possessing these items signals one has made a significant investment in the group. 

After watching thousands of transactions, what strikes me most is the routine nature by which stimulants are traded. What might shock the sober world is that the procurement of drugs in this urban warehouse is no different than how one might buy apples at a suburban grocery store. The sellers are interwoven into the community whose dependence they have built. They seem to have no concept that they are the socioeconomic drain and a cause of the community’s financial problems - the culture here promotes using drugs with impunity. 

I just described Starbucks. 

The intent of this article is to show the arbitrariness with which the social sciences have historically and continue to pathologize and sensationalize drug use in certain communities but not others.

Thank you and all credit to Amanda Bennett for the concept of this piece.