What happens when the junkies can't get their fix?

greenspun.com : LUSENET : TimeBomb 2000 (Y2000) : One Thread

I live within 10 miles of a small city (York, PA) but it's not so small that it doesn't have an ample supply of junkies and crack heads. Has anyone thought about the drug trade and the "side effects" of it drying up. Yes, I know that I should move but the wife is a DWGI and selling the house is not acceptable. Plus, there are junkies in the country, too!

-- (rcarver@inacom.com), October 23, 1999

Answers

Junkies unable to get their "meds" are not a problem.

Been there done that, "junkie patrol" that is. John-Q-Public isnt targetted for anything. Junkies drop off very fast and violently within their own "hemispheres" if they cant get their "shit".

If the stuff is available but no money is around they hit the easy targets first and are disorganized and cannot get past a first level resistance. By the way, the price of drugs is not related to quality or availability, its based on "price affordable to pay". If John-Q-CrackPipe cant afford $10 rock, the dealer WILL sell the same for $5.00 or whatever can be raised.

Dont relocate due to fears of drug users.

-- hamster (hamster@mycage.com), October 23, 1999.


Most of them will end up dead. They'll try to break into pharmacies and hospitals, and eventually get shot or caught and thrown into the barbwire camps where they will slit their wrists with barbwire because it is easier than going through withdrawal.

-- @ (@@@.@), October 23, 1999.

Forget junk. What about nicotine withdrawal? What if prozac nation starts jonesing for meds?

-- silver ion (ag3@interlog.com), October 23, 1999.

This is something I have thought about quite a bit. There are all kinds of junkies. Heroin is just one of many addicitions. When you broaden your definition of junkie to include alcoholics, smokers and tee vee addicts you begin to see why people may very well get testy even if supply lines are only down for a few days or weeks.

Alcohol is by far the easiest drug to produce on demand. It is however an extremely dangerous process in the hands of the inexperienced.

But back to the issue of "real" junkies on illegle drugs such as heroin and meth. You can bet those folks will be dangerous. They are dangerous now. If you have any sort of prescription drugs on hand I suggest you hide them VERY well.

Finally, once said junkies are too deep into cold turkey to be a hazard there will be their children to care for.

Even a 3-day global winter storm would be bad for junkies. The closing of the Panama Canal will be a disaster.

Even if nothing else breaks down the end of the JIT drug supply will be bad news for everyone. Just as extended power outages and a shortage of condoms are sure to increase "accidental" pregnancies and the transmission of STDs.

-- Dolma Lhamo (I'm@nonymous.now), October 23, 1999.


Perhaps a wee bit off-topic from the original post, but...

In Western civilization, except for humble country folk, just about EVERYONE is addicted to their way of life. That is why Y2K-induced panic is such a realistic concern.

-- Anonymous99 (Anonymous99@Anonymous99.xxx), October 23, 1999.



Forget Heroin. That's child's play. Guess what happens when the coffee and mountain dew junkies can't get their fixes.

-- Paul Milne (fedinfo@halifax.com), October 24, 1999.

Let's see. Withdrawal symptoms. Sweats. Vomiting. Hallucinations. Convulsions. Not exactly the kind of experience that makes people dangerous, except to themselves.

-- Brian McLaughlin (brianm@ims.com), October 24, 1999.

....and donuts!

Not to mention the reaction of people when the server is too busy and they can't access this board, or when Gary goes on vacation for a 3 day weekend.

-- (snowleopard6@webtv.net), October 24, 1999.


What happens when Guinness runs out :(

-- Andy (AUVENGER@cs.com), October 24, 1999.

[Let's see. Withdrawal symptoms. Sweats. Vomiting. Hallucinations. Convulsions. Not exactly the kind of experience that makes people dangerous, except to themselves]

Then you've never tried to help one who is going through withdrawals and DT's. In my jail, some are not dangerous, others exhibit superhuman strength and rage. And no, not just those on PCP. They CAN be dangerous, each case is different.

-- YES (IAM@LEO.xxx), October 24, 1999.



You have missed the worst group. It is the Methadone group! It takes them 30 days to detox off Methadone and they go nuts! Heroin is MUCH shorter to go off. Just a couple days of hell. But Methadone folks have 30 days of agony and they will try to steal any drugs to help them cope with that. Prescription drugs from your home as well. And, they and the junkies will have to pay super high prices and that means more theft. Not of goods this time, but cash.

-- trouble (vein@fix.com), October 24, 1999.

EVERYONE WILL BE JUNKIES FOR FOOD AND WATER. I would be delighted if my only concerns were drug addicts stealing my VCR after Y2K.

-- Arthur Washington (ARTWASH@webtv.net), October 24, 1999.

As I posted here before:

We ate more nutritious food, which we gathered from garbage, than that the current generation consumes in overabundance.

For years I walked to a store to buy my lunch. I observed what the kids from the nearby high school bought there to eat; almost exclusively: colored sugar water and sugar bars. In more than a dozen years did I observe one of them buy a banana, another one a cup yogurt.

Sugar must be the most prevalent addictive substance.

-- Not Again! (seenit@ww2.com), October 24, 1999.


My stepfather, whom I no longer have anything to do with, is a raging alcoholic. It is amazing he lives day to day NOW. If Y2K even causes MINOR disruptions he is toast. In January of this year he tried to off himself with vodka. Was taken with no pulse to the ER where they determined he had a blood alcohol level of .596. The dr. said he had never even seen a CORPSE with a BAL that high. That #, BTW is the % of your blood that is alcohol, meaning that well over half of his blood was pure alcohol. He had sliced the bottom of his foot open and when they were trying to stitch it closed, he started throwing punches, came off the table and got a concussion when he landed on the floor. He actually GOT up after that and slammed into the wall. THey got him back on the bed and put the restraining staps on his arms and legs. I was there, it was scary, though he was just acting the way he always has. They didn't exactly want to sedate him, since sedative drugs are his problem, but they were AMAZED to see he even FELT the stitches (they did numb up the area, too). Sheesh. He went to a 6 month long intensive in patient rehab in Mississippi after that and relapsed after they released him. That;s when I decided 22 years of dealing with him when he won't even help himself was ENOUGH. I have not spoken to him or seem him in months, but my husband works at the same place he does (he lost his other job and actually convinced these people to HIRE him, on a probationary basis). His ex-wife, my biological mother, whom I also do not have anything to do with, is addicted to many different types of prescription drugs and has Bipolar Personality Disorder, untreated. She sleeps with her doctors to get the rx. I guess she is pretty attractive for 51, though a pretty messed-up person. I always think people like that, for whom reality is hanging on a pretty thin string to begin with are going to have the hardest time surviving any kind of disruptions. (Just for the record, my read dad and stepmother are really normal people who handle their lives just fine.)

-- Preparing (preparing@home.com), October 24, 1999.

Terrific. When I asked the question, I was only worried about crack- heads. Now I'm worried about alcoholics, smokers and my wife (coffee junkie) Going to Wally World for 10 more lbs of Folgers.

-- (rcarver@inacom.com), October 24, 1999.


Brian,

The problem is not the withdrawal symptoms. The problem is that junkies will do almost anything (including prostitution,robbery, etc.) to avoid going through withdrawal. that's where the danger lies.

-- Ann M. (His mckids @aol.com), October 24, 1999.


That's ok, because junkies don't have guns, they spent all their money on the stuff. Good luck getting past Mr. Mossberg without a gun.

-- @ (@@@.@), October 24, 1999.

I grew up in York, and I know the drug problem is serious there....the mayor and the citizens better darn well think what they are going to do. It is either going to be shoot them, give them free drugs, or lock them up in jail (assuming heat) and make them go cold turkey. of course, some judge would sayu this is cruel....

good think York is surrounded by farmland and farmers...but I guess if they are all as clueless re: y2k and preps then the farmland may not be utilized. Or, maybe people from {Philly, Baltimore and Harrisbur will drive there looking to loot food.....O, Happy thanksgiving anyway. enjoy the food, while we have it. And may we ask God to be merciful so that we are alive at this time next year...

-- walter (wsmsk@juno.com), October 25, 1999.


Moderation questions? read the FAQ