Narrow minded thinking: Drug Users (Chicago, Justice: credit card, lawyer, neighborhoods)

[Princeton]

In my "I love my small town: 2 hours from Chicago" thread, I shared why I feel the way I do. The post following mine bashed my opinion by naming areas where, in his/her opinion, drug use was rapant. Although I disagree with the statement, and stated so in a later post, after further reflection I felt the need to start a new thread on the matter and would love any input.
It's narrow-minded thinking to assumes drug use is only in the poor areas of town--when in truth drugs are everywhere; in every city. Although I still believe, compared to other areas, the drug task force here is excellent, I guarantee that drug use occures in the other more affluent neighborhoods of my precious town as well as any town, city, village, etc.-- it's just more obvious in poorer neighborhoods.
This can also be said for domestic violence. At a glance, it would appear that drug use and especially DV only affects the poor because they access social services. But both are just as prevalent, and in some cases thought to be more serious among the rich. You just don't see them represented high in the statistics because the well-to-do access private avenues of help.
I've read many posts in here and often see threads about "nice neighborhoods". Define "nice" and then we'll talk.
I've been redeemed.
Drug lords don't live in trailer parks.

[gardener34]

You said it. I had less problems in my so called "bad" neighborhood in the city, where there was a small time drug dealer living next door and a prostitute across the street.
I live in the fox valley unincorporated area now, and the rednecks are just impossible to deal with. Lots more vandalism in this neighborhood I am in now.
There were drugs in both neighborhoods.
And I hung out with kids from a very affluent local HS (unnamed) when I was growing up. Those kids were the worst druggies because they could afford the drugs. Mom and Dad just gave them the credit card and did not care what they did. Whatever scrapes they landed in, they would get an expensive lawyer to get them out of it.
You are right - drugs (and alcohol) abuse is everywhere in every social class.

[Schmoo]

This is a good study by the Illinois Criminal Justice Authority that provides good information about the drug problem, especially meth labs, in rural areas.

Within IL, 77% of meth labs are in rural areas, and the prison admission rate for drug offenses is 20% higher in rural areas than urban areas. It goes on to discuss why this is such a significant problem as rural areas have very limited resources to fight drug abuse, and given the geography, are harder to detect.

Of course all towns and cities, all income classes, have drug problems. But meth labs are much more prevalent in rural areas, plus we have all the common street drugs of larger cities too. Further, we have a limited ability to enforce drug laws, limited treatment options for addicts, and a higher percentage rate of incarceration. It does not add up to a good situation.

[Scribbler]

Seriously, I grew up near both Princeton and Schmoo, and it's really naive to think that drug problems are nonexistent in small towns/rural communities. It's similarly naive to think that they're only problems among the so-called lower classes and lower income.

[Switch625]

Anhydrous ammonia is simply not commonly available in urban settings and it is a key ingredient in methamphetamine. Since anhydrous ammonia is a farm chemical, it is easily obtained in rural areas. That alone explains the lopsided figures for where meth labs are found.

[DianaC]

I completely agree!!! I feel very safe in my community that acknowledges there's a problem and works to address it.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by Switch625

Anhydrous ammonia is simply not commonly available in urban settings and it is a key ingredient in methamphetamine. Since anhydrous ammonia is a farm chemical, it is easily obtained in rural areas. That alone explains the lopsided figures for where meth labs are found.

Not to mention that meth labs reek and they'd be discovered instantly in populated areas.

[Scribbler]

Originally Posted by Drover

Not to mention that meth labs reek and they'd be discovered instantly in populated areas.

...that have adequate policing, unlike largely rural unincorporated areas. Where I grew up, you are lucky to see one of the tiny fleet of county sheriff's dept. squad cars on my parents' road twice a year. Meth manufacturers know this.

[Schmoo]

Originally Posted by Scribbler

...that have adequate policing, unlike largely rural unincorporated areas. Where I grew up, you are lucky to see one of the tiny fleet of county sheriff's dept. squad cars on my parents' road twice a year. Meth manufacturers know this.

True Scribber! I have lived in LaSalle county for 4 years now. You know how many LaSalle county sheriffs I have seen? Zero. I couldn't even tell you what their squad cars look like. For all I know, they are entirely fictional.

[Scribbler]

Lee County (where I grew up and lived prior to LaSalle County, and wher emy parents still live) is even worse...smaller county, but much smaller force.

And when you factor in that the majority of the meth lab busts are done by State Police district drug task forces, which are spread out even MORE thinly over even LARGER areas, it's amazing that anything gets busted at all.