ANTH 2150-W5_W2026 by Humayun Kabir

Response

2026-02-13 17:45:43 UTC

Globalization increased poverty and inequality which forced individuals to turn to illegal or illicit means of making money and surviving (e.g. drug selling). With the economy fluctuating and loss of jobs becoming more prevelvant, the streets and drug dealing culture became a necessary way of building a career and making a living. This led to the legal work culture being disturbed due to individuals forced to go to the drug selling route.

YhYH

2026-02-13 17:48:48 UTC

(basically) The change in economy from manufactured to service economy cause many to loose their job, resulting in not only poverty, but their children dropping out of schools, and having to work to support their family. However in the community they lived and the environment, the children found themselves part taking in the drug industry. This was the main beginning of a street culture that was instilled upon vulnerable communities.

Anth 2150 response Colton Doyle

2026-02-13 17:49:04 UTC

The economy and political context drastically affect the drug economy and the culture related to it. In areas with higher rates of poverty the use and selling of drugs is higher. When people can’t find legal jobs they’re going to turn to illegal methods to gain an income they need to survive. People in high poverty areas are less likely to graduate high school and therefore are less likely to find a job via a legal method. Political factors can play into this as well, with the restriction and criminal punishment for the selling and buying of drugs, the price increases which means more people are enticed to sell. Political factors can also change this, with economic pushes to help lower income communities land fair paying jobs, and drug decriminalization, which would lower the street value of drugs, enticing less people to sell them. Drugs being decriminalized in B.C. Have lowered overdose rates by 17 percent in B.C. The largest drop in history of the province. Political and economic changes are the key way to fight high drug use, not more police. By lifting the poorer communities up, they won’t have a need to sell drugs to survive, and by paying them fair wages and decriminalizing drugs lowering how much their worth, why would someone sell drugs instead of working a good career.

2026-02-13 17:49:17 UTC

Changes in the work economy can majorly affect the drug economy in the way people will look for other means to live. If someone is fired and has a hard time finding work legally they are going to look for other means in order to feed themselves or their families. Colonization also plays a huge role, in the way that when someone’s country is colonized and their life is turned upside down, they may not have the credentials to get a good or well paying job, so they will have to stick with either really low paying jobs or go with the more illegal work. This in the end fuels the entire drug economy and the culture, as more people get into it the more people who will be fighting over power and an area, it will make it more violent and more dangerous having a surplus of people joining. The Puerto Ricans didn’t want to live a life like this, they wanted to live the American dream like everyone else wanted. But due to not having the same opportunities or having some taken while their country was colonized, they had to find a different way to make money.

Delaney

Drug economy

2026-02-13 17:50:09 UTC

Many Puerto Ricans and African Americans worked factory/manufacturing jobs as they didn't require much education or skills. These jobs provided families with enough income for necessities and to send their children to school. As neoliberal globalization started to shift the economy by outsourcing labor and manufacturing to other countries like China, Mexico, India, etc. Factories in the US were no longer profitable so many workers were laid off. The lack of employment and income forced kids to drop out of school and resort to streets to make money. This caused white employers to not want to hire Puerto Ricans and African Americans as they didn't like the way they spoke and dressed. This further forced them to the streets to sell drugs and do crime, which was facilitated by the increased prices of illegal drugs, lax gun laws and the violent state of inner city ghettos and incarceration.-Louis

1 Explain how changes in economy and political context affect the drug economy and the culture associated with it.

2026-02-13 17:51:22 UTC

When the economy get worse, people are easily involved in drugs (hustler or user) to make money and support themselves. Political decline do not stop the trade but also push it underground. This makes the drug widespread and may become more recreational and linked to nightlife or consumer culture. Over time, these conditions shape a culture built around risk, influencing how people think, act, and understand their place in society, normalize it in society.

Week 5 Response

lepinej25 — 2026-02-13 17:51:53 UTC

Changes in economy and political structure affected the drug economy by making it easier to find a place in the drug-world rather than traditional work. In New York, many of the Puerto Rican factory workers had lost their jobs because of an increase in outsourcing work. Therefore, because of a lack of education and status, other traditional jobs were unavailable. This led to many turning to a more viable and accessible source of income: selling drugs. This outcome is also evident in Philadelphia, with the same driving factor of a lack of legal work.

With more people turning to selling drugs for income, the drug economy became more competitive. This turned the culture associated with illegal work into a violent landscape, as a fight for territory.

2026-02-13 17:51:57 UTC

Economy and political context is intertwined with drug economy. When there is less opportunity for legal employment and growing poverty, selling drugs becomes a way to earn money. Since selling drugs is illegal it makes very high profit, so doing it comes with earning money power and respect however it gives no protection. So, there are roles for doing this job like suppliers, hustlers, bichote, riders,etc. When doing these kinds of jobs people get involved in various other crimes as well including violence so going to proison becomes normal. With young people too getting access to weapons.

2026-02-13 17:55:26 UTC

The change of economy from the manufacturing industry into the service industry resulting in making jobless. Because at first working doesn't require alot of education or skills,but the switch into the service industry make people lose jobs and find alternative means like go into the street drug selling industry. This shows a form inequality for the people with lack of education not benefiting from the service industry era. This increased the rate of people make the drug business as a job to earn a living