Drug Abuse and Its Impact on Gang-Affiliated Males in California
Did you know that in the late 1980’s police believed that Los Angeles was the “Gang Capital of the Nation?” Drugs and gang related violence penetrated its way through neighborhoods, but mainly within African American and Hispanic communities. During this period, Cocaine was one of the most popular and addicting drugs. The Hispanic and African American communities were not the only ones using the drug, but at that time people throughout the United States would be able to see cocaine being used on movies, tv shows and music videos. It was almost like the drug was being glamorized. Cocaine’s ability to alter the mind is one of the reasons why gangs in late 1980 Los Angeles has shifted from Hispanic superiority to Black superiority. Mike Sager’s “Death in Venice” clearly identifies the negative impacts that drugs have on young gang-affiliated males living in Venice, California.
Mike Sager, a white male, went undercover to show the world what gangs in Los Angeles (specifically Venice, California) are like. Sager decided that the only way to gain trust from the members of the V-13 gang (a Hispanic gang in Venice, CA) was to do drugs with the youth of the group. Whilst being undercover, Sager witnessed the powerful effects that cocaine and other drugs such as PCP and marijuana had on the mind. Initially, the whole purpose of gangs was: neighborhoods identify which gangs are present and the member’s primary job is to protect the neighborhood. Yet the younger members of the gangs started to neglect the role of “protector” when drugs were introduced; Leaving the youth no other choice but to focus on getting high.
Author, Mike Sager has written in a way that the reader almost has no other choice but to understand exactly what is going on within the V-13 gang. Since Sager was there in the flesh and experienced everything that went on during that time, the reader had a better chance at believing the severity of addiction and its effects on young men. If someone asked the reader about any personal experiences with drug addicts, it would most likely be confirmed that at some point, the reader witnessed a random drug attic hanging out on some corner begging for money or drugs; when that same diminished life could be better only if it was never introduced to these powerful drugs. Even if the readers have not personally witnessed the dangers of drugs, it is very likely that it was broadcasted on televisions or movies, for an example: Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown. Other readers may not find Sager’s method of infiltrating the gang “reasonable. ” People could question Sager’s credibility because the decision made to get high with the members is not necessarily considered logical. Because the youth of the gangs were already disoriented due to the drugs. Some people could say there was probably an easier, more responsible way to interview the members. It was mentioned in the essay that the youth of the gangs became less violent due to the need to get high. With that being said, Sager could have easily bribed the members without being harmed.
From reading Sager’s essay, the reader would be able to understand the dangers that drugs possess over young males living in a neighborhood affiliated with gangs. Throughout the whole essay, the author made sure that the audience would be able to clearly indicate what makes youth who are addicted to drugs, abandon everyday responsibilities and routines. Mike Sager’s “Death in Venice” clearly identifies the negative impacts that drugs have on young gang-affiliated males living in Venice, California.
