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Drugs, Inc.
2010 · TV series · documentary · 43 min episodes · 7 seasons
Drugs: A multi-billion-dollar industry that fuels crime and violence like no other substance on the planet. Turning cartel leaders into billionaires, the illegal drug industry also provides vital income to hundreds of thousands of poor workers across the globe. While some users sacrifice their lives to an addiction they can't escape, others find drugs to be their only saving grace from physical or emotional pain almost impossible to overcome. Where should the lines be drawn in this lucrative industry?
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There's a National Geographic documentary series called Drugs, Inc. [1] that I find fascinating.
Let's set aside what an abject failure the so-called War on Drugs has been in the US and the violence of the drug trade and just appreciate the market economics for a second.
One episode listed all the stages coca leaves took to becoming crack cocaine. Processing in jungle labs, transportation to smugglers, further processing, flying to Mexico, entering the US and distribution. And each stage there is loss to law enforcement, rival gangs, theft, etc and that loss rate is reflected in how the price jumps at each stage.
In another, it detailed how meth (IIRC) entered the US primarily in Phoenix. As a result, Phoenix has (so the show said) the cheapest meth in the US. For every 1000 miles you radiated away from Phoenix, the price doubled.
To me it was fascinating to see people who generally had little education, came from terrible backgrounds and grew up amidst crime and violence talk about the math of distance and price and how it impacted his distribution organization. It's sad to see someone who actually has a talent for hustling and basically sales be lost to the drug world.
This is yet another reason why I think the "are you a felon?" question should basically be outlawed in the US.
Additionally you see how organizations have evolved to insulate themselves from disruption (from rivals or law enforcement). Most people know very little and certainly not the big picture. Merchandise frequently changes hands.
I don't know what the solution here is. I fully support legalization of recreational cannabis in any world where alcohol consumption is legal. I certainly don't think we should be sending people to prison for possession.
At the same time, you have cities like Seattle, Portland and San Francisco that are literally being destroyed by non-policing of drugs and small property crime.
But the US prison industrial complex is and always has been a direct attack on the poor and minorities.
[1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drugs,_Inc.
That is true - alcohol is both nmda antagonist (the stumbly ataxia) and gaba agonist (effect on anxiety.) GHB IMO is not nearly as gnarly of a substance as alcohol because it sort of has a ceiling but withdrawal from any gabaergic is uncomfortable and potentially life threatening and nmda agonists are not, there are a lot of causes of bladder damage especially from ketamine, drowning, falling off buildings, loss of jobs, friends, family. Despite it's rather low physical harm profile (aside from the bladder damage) it's incredibly addictive and many people go wayyyyy wayyyyyyyy too far. I have lived it, and I've seen it. It has a very dark side.
I know the IV user in this film (they call him Chris on camera). This user is atypical but there are many people with extensive bladder damage and negative social effects. You'll have to take my word for it. I'm sure there is more research from china especially as it's very common drug used there. Police note (anecdotally) the typical user in north america has changed to middle aged and affluent as the price of street ketamine has gone up from maybe $25/g to +$90 https://www.snagfilms.com/films/title/drugs_inc_ketamine
I believe in its power as an antidepressant. I'm just concerned about the effects a bit. It will fuel research - it seems it's not ketamine but metabolites and effects on ganglial growth that spur the sudden changes to a depressed mind. And a new objective view on life and reality.
The depression-fixing threshold is smaller that most recreational use, and it would only be once every two weeks. That side effect trivial to rule it out. Educate yourself and stop being a pawn of the drug war.
I watched two documentaries in short succession: Drugs Inc's episode on Ketamine, and a few episodes of Combat Medic. Drug Incs' played up the bladder damage, the persistant dissociative feeling with abusers, and how it's just horse and cat tranquilizer that's no longer used on humans.
Combat Medic non-challantly showed medics giving ketamine to US soldiers in Afghanistan, because it's an effective and immediate anesthetic. They were subtle about it, but it was there. Our the dissonance in the media about drugs like this is indicative of fear mongering and propaganda.
I would agree with all your sentiments expect Drugs Inc and Underworld Inc. I don't think its designed to scare old people and the people on the show are not made up. Its a documentary. You take from it what you will. In fact I find the show to be sympathetic to both sides of drug and crime problems we have.
it's because the angle you mention has been covered plenty of times. watch a few episodes of Drugs Inc. and you'll see.
this covers the end we rarely hear about and is far more interesting as it's far removed from the street.