High on LI: Drugs on Long Island

by Kaitlyn Herzog

Long Island, New York is a small landmass that stretches 118 miles east from the exciting New York City out to the luxurious Hamptons. It is known for its great schools, expensive property, the surfing and fishing and of course, the iced tea. Unfortunately, in recent years Long Island has been in the news for another reason, drugs. While the use of marijuana was always prominent on Long Island there is a growing number of teenagers and young adults now using heroin. There is also the continued use of alcohol, cocaine, prescription pills, ecstasy and acid.  On an island so close to New York City where there seems to be so much to do, why are kids turning to drugs?

Marijuana could very well be chalked up to the most used drug in the United States. It is usually seen as harmless among teenagers and young adults and they consider it almost safe. Because marijuana has limited effects on the body, it is usually the first drug people try, then they move on to more intense drugs such as cocaine, acid and heroin because they want to get a better high. This is why marijuana is called the “gateway drug”. According to www.gdcada.com, the risk of cocaine use is estimated to be 104 times greater for those who have tried marijuana. So why are people doing it? When asked why she uses marijuana, Brianne Kruezer*, a junior in college from Long Island, says this about the drug “I like to smoke pot ‘cause it lets me relax and giggle when if I wasn’t high I’d be stressing about something.” Kruezer went on to talk about how her family and the demanding school work of college has left her feeling very overwhelmed and that marijuana seems like the only thing that helps. This is common among a lot of young adults. According to www.abovetheinfluence.com many people believe drugs will cure their stress. Other reasons why people use drugs is because they are bored, want to fit in and believe marijuana is safe because it is grown naturally. The use of marijuana recreationally has been a growing problem for quite some time and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down.

Heroin is a drug that creates relaxation and euphoria, contributing the widespread use of it. The statistics of heroin use on Long Island have jumped significantly. According to Newsday, in 2008 in Nassau County there were 46 heroin overdoses and deaths caused by overdose, the highest there have ever been. Heroin arrests have risen to 91% between 2005 and 2008 in Nassau County and 126% in Suffolk County. Between 2004 and 2008 around 1,068 people lost their lives to heroin or prescription drug opiates on Long Island. In November in West Hempstead, Long Island, there were tiny heroin bags found that made parents worry even more. The bags had a picture of Edward Cullen from the very popular books turned movies “Twilight”. This meant that heroin dealers were targeting the young audience of the books/films, which are mostly teenage girls. Celebrities like Janis Joplin and Kurt Cobain who owned the grunge rock world died young from heroin overdoses, this is almost glamorizing heroin to young people, making them believe it is cool because their idols did it and completely ignoring the fact that it killed them. Heroin is also very cheap, about five dollars a bag, where as marijuana could run to about twenty dollars a bag. This contributes to high school students using it because they don’t have a lot of money. Heroin can also be found almost anywhere on Long Island now due to its popularity.

Drugs such as alcohol, cocaine and prescription pills are also commonly found on Long Island. Alcohol is a drug although most people do not know this. It is not uncommon to find a house party full of underage teenagers out on Long Island on a weekend night. According to www.centurycouncil.org 32.1% of the youth (under 21) consumed alcohol last month and 20.1% binge drink alcohol. James Harrison*, a high school student from Oceanside, Long Island, says he drinks at parties because “all my friends are doing it, I would definitely look stupid if I sat there drinking water, so I drink a beer or take a shot.” Peer pressure is of course a big reason as to why anyone does almost anything. When you’re young and in high school giving in to peer pressure is almost expected because everyone wants to fit in and be cool. Cocaine is another drug being pushed throughout high schools and colleges. Cocaine can be smoked or snorted through the nose. The effects of Cocaine are a feeling of supremacy, high alertness and an extremely elevated and happy mood. Mary McCartney* from Long Island is a college student and she said this about her past use of cocaine “the first time I tried it was just to make me feel better after drinking a lot. After that, every time I was offered it I was like ‘well I’ve done it before it’s no big deal’, it was also always around me since a lot of people I hung out with did it”. Cocaine is a very addictive drug and it’s very hard to do it once and never again. People also often continue cocaine because they want to reach the high that they got the first time they did it, which of course never happens so as what happened with McCartney, if you are around it, you are going to do it. Cocaine is a very expensive drug though so it is harder to get a hold of; people who are addicted often spend a very large portion of their money on this drug. Prescription pills are often commonly used on Long Island. Drugs like xanax, vicodin and oxycodone are the most popular. Xanax is usually prescribed to people who suffer anxiety disorders to help them relax. As a recreational drug it is often taken with other drugs like alcohol, marijuana or acid. It is used to relax and create a state of euphoria, like heroin. Vicodin is a pain killer, also used to relax people. It is very strong and the body will sometimes reject it resulting in vomiting. Oxycodone is also a pain killer resulting in relaxation. These drugs are mainly used to create a high feeling and are all highly addictive. Other types of prescription pills that people take like Adderall are used to keep you awake and alert. College students take those types of drugs so they can stay awake and write a paper or it can help them focus in class. All of these drugs are very dangerous and very common among high school and college students.

Other drugs used are ecstasy and acid. Both of these drugs may cause a person to hallucinate. Ecstasy is often found in the “rave” dance scene. It makes the music sound better and brings you to a state of pure happiness. This is why often the drug is found with a smiley face imprinted on it. It is now stretching out to the Long Island club scene in general and more people are doing this drug. Jennifer Morrison* of Long Island is a college student and very into the rave scene as well as E, she said this “I could not go to a rave without doing E, seriously it makes the party so much more fun, with all the black lights and bright colors, it blows your mind.” This is often the side of ecstasy that people hear about, not the fact that it is putting holes in your brain with each use, just the state of pure enjoyment and this contributes to why people use it. Acid is a drug that alters the mind entirely. Morrison also used this drug and said this “I did acid and I saw the world in an entirely different aspect, some people gave me bad vibes, some songs made me have almost an epiphany.” This is why people are using acid. It gives you the opportunity to see the world is a different way, some say it makes the more creative. Acid usually lasts about 8 hours so most people take Mushrooms instead which is almost the same effect but for a shorter time. Both acid and ecstasy are drugs that are highly dangerous but are talked about in these ways making them seem amazing and worth trying.

Long Island has become very prominent in drug use in the recent years and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down and hopefully future generations will become more educated and put an end to it. Whether it is because they are bored, want to relieve stress, feel good or alter their world, everyone has a different reason as to why they do the drugs they do.

*All the names in this article were changed to protect the interviewee

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