The Inner City Drug Problem - 2549 Words

Aside from being among the most undesirable of places that a person could live, the inner cities of the United States are said to be a horrible gangland full of murder, prostitution, and drugs. While this description is overblown in some cases, the inner city definitely resembles the definition given. Inner cities across the country are havens for gangs and the activities that keep them financially viable: prostitution, robbery, and drugs. The focus of this paper will deal with the problem of drugs in the inner city. Rejecting a broad definition of â€Å"drugs,† that includes alcohol, cigarettes, and legal prescription drugs, I will be concentrating on the illicit â€Å"street drugs† that proliferate in the inner cities of the United States. In†¦show more content†¦These kids are on the lowest rung of the drug-dealing ladder. They can make three or four hundred dollars a week just watching out for police. Further up the ladder, the actual street dealers can make hundreds of dollars a day, while the higher ranking gang members make thousands a day. The drug dealing enterprise is very attractive to inner city young people because most are poor, uneducated, and have a bleak outlook for the future. And if you think about it pragmatically, McDonald’s pays a couple hundred dollars a week after taxes; a street level dealer makes that and more in a day without having to pay taxes. Two-thirds of all inner-city male youth, both black and white, believe that they can make more money from crime than from legitimate work. As a result of these economic factors, drug dealers have become symbols of success. Young people also see the money and prestige associated with drug dealers in their communities and they are sucked in by the â€Å"glamorous† side of the gangs. Also, in a community where people often feel powerless and destitute, it is liberating to acquire the sense of power that is associated with membership in the gangs. And where a kid was once at the mercy of the uncontrollable aspects of his inner city world, the gang has given him a sense of control over his helplessness, and the power to control those who would harm him.Show MoreRelatedAmerica s Drug Enforcement And Addiction1725 Words   |  7 PagesIt might seem like the United States has become more lenient on drug enforcement and addiction. Considering that municipalities removed penalties for bringing in someone overdoing on drugs into the emergency room and have lowered the minimum amount of time someone spends in prison for drug possession. However, I argue these changes are motivated by the changing face of heroin or its increasing use among the white suburban middle class. 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