[Jonty30]

I suspect the amount, and types, of drugs being consumed has a lot to do with the sharp increase of black crime. Prior to 1980, only a relative few went harder than marijuana, at the very least, because the other stuff was just to expensive.

Than came crack, and other cheap but highly addictive drugs. My experience, through observation, is that drugs are at the root of probably 90% of all crime.

[kearnyirish2]

“Prior to 1980, only a relative few went harder than marijuana, at the very least, because the other stuff was just to expensive.”

NYC was much worse than that, at least 10 years earlier (kids starting out sniffing glue, etc.). The white flight from the related crime made the city unrecognizable by 1970.

[Elsie]

My experience, through observation, is that drugs are at the root of probably 90% of all crime.

Then make them FREE!

The sooner they OD and disappear the better!

[Chickensoup]

Than came crack, and other cheap but highly addictive drugs. My experience, through observation, is that drugs are at the root of probably 90% of all crime.

________________________

Actually that is a leftist nostrum.

Research quoted by Dalrymple states that criminals are most likely to use illegal drugs. Therefore they rob and are violent and drug using. It is the character of the user that determines their use and their criminality.

[jboot]

Drugs are ubiquitous in Anacostia. The only people aren't using are the very young and the very old. If you go there during the day and knock on doors, they will mostly be answered by children under 10 or women over 60. There will be one or more adults "crashing" in most places you visit, and the poor kids will be in an ecstasy of fear lest you wake them up. Outside, every project, apartment house or side street has its own "crew" openly dealing.

I was there three years in a row delivering food baskets, for an entire day each time. It that time the only police presence I saw was a single "officer" (the term can only be applied in the loosest sense) who dropped by the school where we were staging the food to make sure that we had "permits".

[Alas Babylon!]

I got there just as crack and AIDS came on the scene. Really tore up DC pretty bad. I went up into SE a lot in 1984-85, and when I got married in 86 we had a apt. in Camp Springs and I’d drive through SE back and forth to work. But by 87 it was so bad, I stopped going that way. A friend of mine was beaten and robbed around Suitland, by the Navy Comms place. I started going through the Naval Reasearch Lab gate off of 295.

That crack empedimic was a mess! It really tore up that neighborhood. Even the Mayor fell to it. But the idjits put him right back, I hear.

I knew a lot of black people who didn’t like Barry either. He wins by appealing to the lowest of the low.