The history of countries can be understood by studying numerous explicit and hidden processes of economics, politics, and trade. Thus, for example, for America in the 20th century, the development of crack production and trade was a striking phenomenon. This drug was popular among different population segments, but it was mainly popular among the poor due to its low price. The author of Crack, David Farber, argues that the use of crack is associated with various processes in the state of the time (8). The purpose of this paper is to study what influenced the development of the drug trade industry and how this process took place.
First, it is crucial to understand that this was influenced by various population segments, so the issue should be considered from different angles. Farber argues that selling crack was a good way to earn money (87). This is because its production is not associated with a large number of costs, while the demand for the product is relatively high. As a consequence, some middle-class white people realized they could become rich working in this area. In particular, it was one of the ways to achieve the “American Dream.” The crack trade could help to quickly earn large sums of money, allowing people to live in abundance and feel their significance. However, undoubtedly, such “work” could be afforded by those who were not worried about the moral issues. Moreover, apparently, the material side of the issue outweighed, since the industry was truly developed and flourished.
The next viral point to consider is the amount of crack consumers. According to Faber, the majority of them were black people with low incomes (15). Thus, these people were trying to “escape from reality” since they did not have the opportunity to earn enough money and live a decent life. In addition, they frequently felt pressure from society, especially from its upper strata. Hence, they were looking for a cheap way to have a good time and feel calm and joyful. The cheapness and availability of crack contributed to the development of these processes; the growth in demand became an incentive to increase production scale. Unfortunately, the functioning of this industry could not but harm society. For example, Farber argues that because of this, the level of people with incomes less than $5,000 has grown significantly (142). Thus, by escaping real problems with the help of drugs, many people spoiled or even destroyed their lives.
Another aspect of drug production that Farber writes about is globalization. The times described by the author were primarily associated with this process, so it became significant for the spread of narcotic substances (18). Crack makers became prosperous entrepreneurs like many other people of the time. However, the difference was that they did it illegally and could not be recognized as real entrepreneurs. Nevertheless, they managed to capture a significant share of the market and influence a vast audience.
Unfortunately, this type of drug has not always been illegal in the United States. At the same time, when its production was legal, many people managed to get used to it (Farber 12). They liked to feel the positive emotions they received with each dose. However, the fact that drugs could ruin their lives did not bother them. Undoubtedly, this is how addiction works: drugs’ effect is too strong and pleasant for people to have the willpower to refuse them. Thus, it is essential to understand that the industry would continue to grow without government action to ban crack. People were in danger, as many did not even realize how dire the consequences of drug use could be.
Fortunately, scientists tackled this issue at some point and investigated the effect of crack on the human body. Realizing how quickly these drugs can harm health, they sounded the alarm. The state listened to their opinion, introducing a ban on crack at the legislative level. This helped to prevent many people’s addictions and even save the lives of those who used drugs. Consequently, the ban on the distribution and use of crack helped stabilize the situation, even if the clandestine industry continued to develop.
Farber has inscribed the history of the crack-selling industry in many other social and political processes in the United States. On the one hand, this is due to the psychological aspect: many people lived in poverty and dreamed of a beautiful life. Consequently, they wanted to make money quickly and easily, so selling drugs seemed like a good idea to them. Other people could not cope with the surrounding world, and they were looking for salvation “outside reality.” Drugs allowed them to forget and feel better than in the real world. On the other hand, the development of crack is related to the structure of society. The class division contributed to the oppression of certain groups of the population, who were ultimately inclined to use crack. In addition, the development of science did not allow us to determine all the dangers of this drug in time. Only when they saw the scale of the problem could they thoroughly examine it and reconsider their attitude towards crack. Thus, the situation has stabilized, and people have become much less susceptible to addiction.
Work Cited
Farber, David. Crack: Rock Cocaine, Street Capitalism, and the Decade of Greed. Cambridge University Press, 2019.