Untitled Essay, Research Paper

Cultural beliefs, expectations, and ideals – how they contribute to drug use.

Why they cause certain anti-drug efforts to fail The extermination of illegal drugs has always been one of our most

important, worldwide issues. Ending the existence of drugs is one of the

toughest and most complicated goals we face. Despite our constant battle

against them, illegal substances continue to exist and thrive in our culture.

With all the effort we put into the war against drugs, why is there little success?

Lack of effort is not a major reason our attempts are failing. It is the lack of

understanding that leads to the misdirection and failure of our attempts.

Obviously a strong desire to use drugs exists, and it is the prevention of this

desire that we need to focus on in order to wipe out drugs from our lives.

In fact, our focus is strongly on punishing drug users, yet applying laws

against committed drug crimes has not proven to be an effective solution. Drugs

are still produced and distributed everywhere, and are taken by many. — despite

Obviously our focus is mid-directed. Because all types of people use

illegal substances, pinpointing one specific group to “bust” is not effective.

Recently, we have tried to track the location of drug use. We find places where

drugs tend to be, and seek to close them down as an effort to decrease the overall

use of drugs.

This has proved to be an ineffective technique because it does not

change

people’s craving for drugs. Reasons leading up to drug use still exist. Arresting

people for drugs does not kill their desire to use them. Closing down a crack

house does not end the residents addiction, it just forces them to move.

Reprimanding committed crimes does not eliminate the reason they were

committed. Addressing drug offenses after they have been made is not an

effective deterrent because the desire for the drug’s effect still remains.

Why is this desire more influential than the law? Partly because the

potential benefits of drugs overwhelm us, and turn our focus away from the

potential dangers and consequences. People will go to extreme lengths to be the

best, or better than what they presently are. Culture’s attitudes toward beauty,

money, power as a representation for success drives us to turn to drugs. Drugs

symbolize power, status, freedom, and the ultimate “high” in our world. Drugs

can help people achieve higher status, more power, as well as the overwhelming

physical and emotional “escape.” Ultimately, the desire for the drug high is

worth the risk — which we conceive to be very small — of being caught. In

reality, the risk of getting caught is extremely slim. Only a small percentage of

all drug crimes do get caught, so our fear of the law is minimal. Therefore, we

continue to use drugs, and are rarely deterred by the infrequent actions taken to

stop what we so badly want to achieve. In addition, many people are willing to

risk getting caught, because the benefits of drugs outweigh the risks.

Despite our strong cultural expectations which encourage this rampant

drug use, we continue to rely on the law to solve the drug problem. Today, one

popular technique is closing down high-drug use establishments, the most

prevalent in our country being nightclubs. These exist for people’s pleasure, and

serve as a site of experimentation and enjoyment; in many different ways.

People are interested in all aspects of clubs, and are drawn into being a part of

them. Nightclubs are a combination of many aspects within the entertainment

industry; including music, fashion, beauty/modeling and acting. Along with

working in, and striving to be a part of, these industries comes the pressure to

keep up with the competition. Those involved in these industries compete just

as much as those who are not; generally, everyone strives to achieve what they

do not have.

Our cultural beliefs about success in these areas include the use of

drugs

as a means of reaching our goals. Drugs have always been closely linked to the

entertainment industry, and regardless of their illegal status, many of us

succumb to the temptation. This is often a direct result of the pressure and

competition that our culture puts each individual through. We are not easily

deterred from using drugs because we refuse to give up our dreams and goals,

and often are willing to do whatever it takes along the path to success.

These strong values keep laws from stopping our drug use. While the

closing of a nightclub may stop us from using drugs there, it will not stop us

from using them somewhere else. Our desire to reach success and be accepted

do not die because of an these infrequent, insignificant actions. When an

establishment closes down, people can easily find another one which fulfills the

same purpose. For example, when a movie theater or restaurant closes, patrons

locate another one. No one stops seeing movies because one theater closes. No

one stops eating because one restaurant closes. Needs and desires still exist —

and are no less important because there is one less way to achieve it.

Nightclubs apply the same way. People attend to party, relax,

socialize,

and be accepted. These desires are not lessened because one place of achieving

them is unavailable, they simply need to be fulfilled elsewhere. And they can

be — because drugs produce the same effects regardless of where they are

ingested.

Our world is full of nightclubs and other establishments that attract

and

contain high amounts of drugs. New establishments open constantly. If one

closes, the activity which would have taken place there moves elsewhere.

Recently, Manhattan’s busiest nightclub, Limelight, was closed by the police.

The weekend after its close, three other top Manhattan nightclubs recorded a

significant increase in attendants. The approximately one-thousand regulars

from Limelight dispersed throughout the other three clubs. Regardless of the

closing, the same people still went out. The same people still did drugs. The

only change was their location. Results proved that intended activity was not

stopped, it just occurred somewhere else.

The weekend Limelight closed, I spent time at each of the other three

main alternative Manhattan nightclubs. After years of attending Limelight, as

well as these other clubs, I felt knowledgeable enough to determine what the

results of Limelight’s close were. I observed change in people’s attitudes and

actions, drug use, and overall events of each night. What I saw proved that the

closing of one nightclub did not end or change the events of the night. The

other clubs were twice as packed, contained significantly more drug use, and

served as new locations for former Limelight patrons. I saw the same faces

continuing to use drugs, their determination to do this obviously unaffected by

the closed club. I also saw the negative effects of this overcrowding due to the

close of Limelight. I saw people passing out from extreme heat and fights

occurring, direct results from the massive overcrowding. Many reports of

accidents, illness, and physical problems at nightclubs are result of the

overcrowding and social conflict, but are seen through the media as a result of

illegal drug activity. Despite Limelight’s closing, the amount of drug use

remained the same, the place where it occurred was the only thing changed.

As a frequent club-goer, I have experience and knowledge about what

occurs in these clubs. I have seen what draws people to them, and have

observed their actions to achieve the desired goals; whether they be social,

mental, physical, or financial/career related. From my experiences, I have

learned that nightclubs exist to help people reach these goals, but are not the

only way they can be attained. People who attend clubs to seek out drugs do so

for many different reasons, all of which still exist even if the nightclub does not.

I have seen models addicted to drugs, flocking to nightclubs to be seen

and to enjoy the euphoric effects of the music, people and attention. Yet they

have another reason for using drugs; to stay thin for their career (which

demands this look). The majority of models use drugs consistently for this

reason alone, regardless if nightclubs are a part of their lives or not. Cultural

beliefs about beauty ideals — not anything related to night life — causes this use

of drugs.

I have seen teenagers influenced by older people, introduced and

sometimes hooked onto drugs by them. The lure of the physical “high” as well

as peer pressure and the need for acceptance all contribute to their drug use.

These reasons do not exist solely within the confines of nightclubs, rather they

are present everywhere — in schools, on streets, basically anywhere children are.

Some children find the physical effects of drugs so wonderful, that they will do

anything to get it again. I know of children as young as 14 using drugs alone, in

their homes, in school — many places other than nightclubs, because their only

goal is to feel the physical “high.” They are unaffected by the closing of a

nightclub because they are only focused on the drug, not the surroundings.

Children struggling towards adulthood, independence, and confidence – without

wisdom or knowledge to make educated decisions, often go to extreme lengths

(drug use)to fit in.

A lot has been written about nightclub’s role in our drug problem.

Many

have described clubs as “drug headquarters” where anyone can go to get any

drug they want. Without these sources would drugs be harder to find?

Certainly, it would not effect the amount of drugs produced. With the same

quantity to sell, dealers (formerly inside clubs) would then be on the streets,

seeking out customers. This way, the product is more available to the general

public. In addition to those who look for drugs, those who wouldn’t ordinarily

want them often end up trying them. They are introduced into drugs by are

intrigue and curiosity, as well as the clever coercion of dealers who have no

qualms about approaching anyone and everyone they can find. A drug addict

always knows where and how to get what they need. And as long as there is

someone who wants a drug, there is someone else there to supply it.