Jason Jimenez

English 101

Professor: Ms. Batty

29/May/2018

The Dark Side of Los Angeles

What do you see when you look out the window? From the lavish-life to the savage-life, Los

Angeles county has many invisible barriers separating the harsh from the pleasant. For many

people that have never been to LA or have only visited, Los Angeles may be a glamorous,

famous, and luxuriate place where the stars live, but for those of us who live here we see Los

Angeles in a different light. This city is not all movie stars and fame, and actually this city has a

more malevolent truth. Los Angeles is far from glamorous and is the opposite of that. The truth

is many people either do not know, care, or have been misled about how big Los Angeles truly

is. Many people automatically begin to picture Hollywood when LA is being mentioned but Los

Angeles is a county made up of many different cities, and most of these cities are not glamorous.

When I think of LA, I think of the vast majority of cities that make up LA, from Beverly hills to

Compton and from downtown LA to the San Fernando Valley. Los Angeles county is the home

of an epidemic that has not been exploited enough so many aren't even aware of its existence.

Los Angeles is known for drawing in stars that shine in the public's eye, but in my neighborhood

in North Hollywood, crystal is all that shines bright. It is one of the many drugs that plague this

city. For me Los Angeles is a city that is overwhelmed with drug addiction and I believe this is

due to the media's influence, my personal experience, and poverty.

I believe that the media in one way or another influences the drug problem that destroys

our communities. I feel it's important to speak on the epidemic sweeping the streets of LA

because even the media casts a shadow over the truth behind Los Angeles. For example, in the
film "La La Land", a movie based in Los Angeles, portrays a city that seems mythical in

comparison to the actual reality of LA. The media makes movies that become hits but never

rightfully portray the reality of life in Los Angeles. Drug addiction has impacted every

neighborhood in Los Angeles and continuously spreads like the black plague. It's like a disease

that does not have a vaccine, meaning that no one has truly emphasized on the need for a

solution. In Los Angeles drug addiction is a tremendous problem because even the media

influences the use of drugs among the youth. This has given a more positive breath to the drug

culture that deteriorates the beautiful city and people of LA. In example, the artist known as

"Future" has a very famous song called "Mask Off," in which he glorifies not only the use of

narcotics but also influences a mixture of drugs. In the song he portrays the mixture of two

drugs, one being Molly and the other being percocets. That is just one of the many songs made

by different artist that influences drug use among the youth. The media has in a sense began

making the drug problem in Los Angeles something that can be swept under the rug and no one

will notice. If people don't begin opening their eyes and speaking on this issue it may dismember

any positivity left in the city. Where would Los Angeles be if the drug addiction gets so

overwhelming that the entertainment industry no longer wants to make anything there. It would

economically devastate the city and further infect the communities with addiction

I believe that poverty is a direct cause of the drug epidemic in Los Angeles. In my

observations I noticed many things that caught my attention about the community and

neighborhood I grew up in. While attentively looking out my window, I observe couples finding

refuge under their homes made of trash. People can be viewed roaming the streets at all hours of

the night. Some of them I saw walking around pushing a cart filled with bottles, asking for spare

change, and walking the streets without even a pair of shoes or socks. The majority of the people
who live in my community struggle to make ends meet and have very few options to change

their situation. Even those living in affordable housing units struggle to stabilize their financial

situation. This poverty that strikes our neighborhoods, in turn, give break to more devious

situations. We may agree, that people who are struggling with the hopelessness of poverty may

be more likely to sell drugs for income, or become a drug addict in hopes to escape their

hopeless situation. This is suggested in an article on substance abuse by the National Council on

Drug Abuse. The NCDA published an article were they explain how poverty contributes to

inclination of addiction. The article states, "A person in an impoverished situation may abuse

drugs or alcohol as a way to cope with the dangerous environment she lives in, a way to deal

with her financial stresses or a way to cope with physical or emotional abuse. Many times, drugs

and alcohol are easily accessible in impoverished neighborhoods where some people actually sell

drugs in hopes of overcoming poverty." This quote suggest that poverty contributes to substance

abuse, either through the lifestyle of poverty or the drug dealing among poor people. Therefore,

areas with a higher density of people in poverty have a higher increase in drug addiction and

other problems, because of the hopelessness of their financial situation. For example, the areas

were the affordable apartment complexes are located, have the highest concentration of drug

addicts and drug dealers in North Hollywood. This is suggested through my observations in

which noticed how closely monitored those areas are by LAPD patrol, gang, and narcotics units.

Even their efforts cant put a dent in the amount of drugs being sold or used. Due to the mass

amounts of people living in poverty its a never ending cycle, because poverty causes people to

sell or use drugs. Therefore, the poverty in Los Angeles is one of the major contributing factors

of drug addiction.
 Through my own personal experiences, I know that Los Angeles Communities are in

devastation due to drug addiction. This is an epidemic that continuously grows in neighborhoods

like mine. The most alarming issue behind this epidemic is that drug addiction knows no

boundaries. I know households in which the entire family smokes "dope" together. Also, babies

that were relocated, by court order to live with their mothers sisters due to the mother using

crystal meth during pregnancy. The way drug addiction affects families and closest friends, is a

difficult pill to swallow and the aftermaths are compelling. The number of people who are

convicted of drug offenses in Los Angeles County, shows that it can hit close to home. In fact,

the government website on public health released a fact sheet called, "Drug Use And Misuse In

Los Angeles County," and in this article I found information on the number of drug convictions

this city. The article states that "Drug offenses account for the highest percentage of overall

felony arrests in Los Angeles County. In 2008, there were 40,928 felony arrests for drug

offenses and 34,312 misdemeanor drug arrests." Although the article only indicates the number

of convictions in 2008, it still portrays the severity of the high amount of convictions. We might

be able to agree that, the number indicated in the fact sheet helps establish a sense of urgency.

That is due to how the numbers demonstrate how high the probabilities are of drugs effecting

your home. The drug epidemic is a reality that I know all too well. I was 13 when I was

introduced to ecstasy and by the time I was 16, I was using methamphetamine. Those are only

two of the many drugs I've tried, but out of all those drugs one really took hold over me. After I

tried methamphetamine at 16, I instantaneously became severely addicted to it. Drugs were

always so easily obtainable, that I could get my drugs delivered to me in less than 15 minutes. I

was so addicted that I would get high daily after trying meth and by the time I was 17 I was

admitted to the emergency room due to an overdose. A few of my friends lost their minds
because of drug addiction. My friend that I knew since we were 11 got so hooked on drugs that

now I barely recognize him. Also, drug use fried his brain so bad that he takes psycho

medication just to function mildly normal. I can't even have a conversation with him because he

doesn’t comprehend anything I tell him. That is the detrimental reality of Los Angeles that many

of us must bear with. The availability of drugs is unbelievable because of how easily obtainable

they are. Drug addiction in Los Angeles is a severe and alarming reality that I believe needs to be

brought out into light. The one reason I believe makes drug use and availability so

overwhelmingly common is poverty.

In conclusion, through my own personal experience living in Los Angeles, I believe the

drug addiction here is because of how it's represented in the media, and the poverty. I believe

that poverty is a leading factor to drug addiction because it creates more opportunity for the

drugs to be distribute. From people having low self-esteem or trying to forget their situations, to

those who are willing to take a risk and sell the drugs themselves. Then the media has taken drug

use to a more positive view among the youth in the communities. The media either promotes the

drug use or just sweeps it under a rug and does not even mention it. Voices needed to be herd

and need more outlets so that people can raise awareness on this issue. The city is getting worse

and worse by the year and this needs to be properly addressed. This issue is not an irreversible

situation. Although the poverty might be a difficult problem, but helping those who are addicted

is not. That is why I believe in raising awareness to the issue of drug addiction. Today it is the

city of Los Angeles tomorrow it may spread to a city near you.

Work Cited Page

http://ncda.org.jm/index.php/publications/drug-talk/66-poverty-a-drug-abuse>

National Council on Drug Abuse, Drug Talk.

Drug Use and Misuse in Los Angeles County,

www.publichealth.lacounty.gov/sapc/FactSheet/DrugUseFactSheet.pdf.