Encyclopedia of Games/eog_disc2.iso/encyclop/wingames/drug/readme.txt

Text File | 1995-10-17 | 20KB | 367 lines

                            DRUG CULTURE MONOPOLY

                                    v 1.0

                          Thomas J. Rundquist, M.Ed.
                             Fred J. Parent, Ph.D

                          programming by Jaques Roy


              SOCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE

        The basic premise of this section is that substance abuse is motivated
by an often complex combination of social conditions and individual psycho-
emotional dynamics.
        In many instances outside of the immediate family situation, social
conditions have a strong influence.  Sociologists tell us that social groupings
regulate the behavior of their members through cultural influences such as norms,
customs, taboos and their associated sanctions.  In various ways, social controls
indicate which ideas and actions are favored within a particular group and which
are not.  Normal urges toward food, shelter, clothing, sexual fulfillment, and
love may be marked with disapproval in one situation and enthusiasm in another.
The complex interplay of cultures, subcultures, and even countercultures tends
to generate a wide variety of interpretations of what is "good" and what is
"bad" in human behavior.  Criminals often muster persuasive rationalizations
or justifications for their illegal activities  e.g., easy money, high living
standards, and a sense of excitement and adventure in their criminal escapades.
Looked at from this perspective, criminal activities can sometimes attract
someone who isn't sure which set of standards are right - that of the "straight"
world, or that of the "deviant" world.
        We live in a society where we are surrounded daily by media messages
suggesting that personal fulfillment and success are best measured in sensual
and materialistic terms.  If you've never noticed it before, spend some time
noting the many occasions that the theme of advertisements is that problems
can be solved through some pill or potion that produces the "quick fix", with
no fuss or muss, and returns the person to a happier preproblem state, or, in
some cases, the implication is that it transports the user to new heights of
fulfillment, success, and happiness.  With all these recurrent messages
encouraging hedonism within what is often an unrealistic problem-free "never-
never land", it is small wonder that the attraction of various substances to
dull, block, or otherwise avoid/escape the challenges and complications of
everyday life has now grown to epidemic proportions.
        Problems related to one's selfconcept are often at the root of much
substance abuse.  Regardless of possesions, achievements, or attractiveness,
a person may feel inherently inferior and unlovable.  This low selfimage is
another favorite target of modern advertising, which finds that prodding
people's insecurities is generally good for business  i.e., helps to sell
the advertised products or services.
        The pace of life in today's world often leaves little time, if any,
for constructive solitude, intimate and serious conversations between people
in close relationships with one another, or other types of warm and supportive
interactions.  Whether as children or as adults, people long denied such basic
human needs begin to experience a wide array of psycho- emotional tensions and
problems, which frequently lead to or aggravate other problems they encounter
in their everyday lives.
        When a person feels rejected, he or she may react in any number of
ways.  Such feelings may be bottled up inside, or displaced outward onto others
in disruptive/destructive behaviors, or generate serious emotional disturbances
within the person, or attract the person to a subculture based upon similar
problems.  One variety of subculture that attracts many in such circumstances
is substance abuse oriented.  (We recognize that there is much substance abuse
that takes place outside of group settings, also.)  Gaining entry to and
succeeding in a drug culture depends primarily on peer- created and peer-
reinforced criteria linked to the level, quality, amounts, strengths, and
category of drugs one is willing and able to use.  Typically, acceptance into
a drug culture produces a new sense of selfworth, an imroved self- image, and
a reordering of values and priorities which often has disastrous results for
the person's other relationships outside of the drug culture.  Sometimes, but
not always, this transformation of the self also includes rejection of the
"straight" world, "the establishment" (which is viewed as having failed its
rejector and is, therefore, unworthy of respect).
        Many of the deceits and even illegal activities that some substance
abusers end up becoming involoved in place a tremendous strain on their
relationships outside the drug culture.  As has so often been said, drugs are
an expensive habit.  The combination of psychological, social, and even physical
dependence upon drugs draws abusers into more and more shady dealings with the
world around them.  Once this downward spiral begins, any shortterm successes
are vastly overshadowed by longterm losses in the person's life.  In one of
life's many ironies, it is at this point, when the abusers are most alienated
from and even repulsive to the "straight" world, that they are in most need of
the "straight" world to help them out of their predicament.


                       IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION

        First, the chronic substance abuser needs to make the decision to end
his or her involvements with drugs.  Ideally, this would be the person's own
decision.  In reality, it is often pressures from others that lead the abuser
to seek help  e.g., a close relative, a friend, a loved one, or someone
representing the law.  Less frequently does the abuser become tired of the
drugs or the life except, perhaps, wanting to avoid a jail term or the ill
effects of the drugs.
        Individuals often try to "kick the habit" on their own, and some succeed,
though many fail.  One source of failure in trying to "go it alone" is the
person's inability to sort through the complexities of the emotional problems
that both led them into substance abuse and became aggravated by that experience.
Some who fail in such an attempt eventually turn to a physician for help.
Some physicians are reluctant to become involved with substance abusers because
of previous experiences of being conned by such people.  The chronic abuser
who is serious about kicking the habit may consent to undergo withdrawl in a
hospital or other similar detoxification setting under professional supervision.
Unfortunately, the waiting lists for drug rehabilitation programs are quite
long; a wait of several months is not unusual in this country.
        Relocating to another setting, away from the people and places that
were involved in their substance abuse experiences, may or may not be helpful
to the person.  In most cases, the major battles and the true victories have
to be won within the person through the development of a more secure and
positive self-image.  Support from family and friends is crucial to the person
at this point; some would say it is essential.  Some degree of involvement of
other family members in family therapy sessions is commonly requested or
required by rehabilitation programs.
        The goals of rehabilitation and the techniques for its achievement
tend to vary from program to program.  In some cases, progress is dramatically
quick; but, more often, progress in agonizingly slow.  The rehabilitation
experience is only the beginning of a struggle that in some way, shape, or form
will be with the person throughout the rest of their lives.  Initially, the
normal problems of everyday life may seem overwhelming to the recovering
abuser.  Eventually, by developing coping abilities and achieving a realistic
self- image, the person can begin to reorder their goals and priorities as
they travel the road to recovery.


          SOME COMMON ELEMENTS OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES "ON THE STREET"

        AFTER HOURS PARTY SPOTS - "Blind Pigs" are similar to the night spots
of the Roaring Twenties (the kind you got into by saying "Joe sent me").
Remaining open past legal closing time, these locations are the relaxation and
entertainment spots for the fast crowd.  Liquor, gambling, dope, and prostitution
are commonly available there.

        "AIRPLANE" - In this congame, the hustler convinces a greedy person
that he can give him a special deal on some merchandise, takes his money, and
disappears.

        ARMED ROBBERY - By using fake or real weapons, the threat of force is
used to rob stores, gas stations, or individuals.  Johns seeking prostitutes
are favorite targets, as are illegal establishments (in both cases, there is
lessened likelyhood that they will report the robbery to the police).

        BURGLARY - Breaking and entering is performed on cars, homes, or
businesses with amazing speed and skill.  A locked car can be stolen in a
matter of seconds.

        COUNTERFEITING - "Funny money" is printed and then exchanged for real
dollars through both large and small distributors.

        DOPE - This large business has many branches.  Some procure, others
transport, others produce or package drugs.  All of these people support the
pusher in your local neighborhood.

        FLIM FLAM - This is "the old switcheroo".  For example, a hustler
enters a store and buys a money order for "x" dollars.  The clerk gives him
the money order, but the hustler doesn't have enough cash on him to pay for
it; so, he says he'll go get more cash in his car.  Fearing the customer may
not return, the clerk asks for the money order back.  After the customer has
left, the clerk discovers he's been handed a one dollar money order.

        FORGERY - Either stolen checks, checking accounts established with
false identification, or checks available from an underworld printer are
passed.

        FRAUDS OF A GENERAL NATURE - Among the many are worthless stocks,
nonexistent raffles, poppies, "I am deaf" cards, and supposed donations.

        GAMBLING - Various cheating devices are used; marked cards, extra
cards, signals between players, loaded dice, rigged games, etc.  Bookies are
very common.  The bets of pennies to dollars on "the numbers" from 001 to 999
are made with hopes of hitting it big; but, the big "winners" in the numbers
racket are the operators, not the customers.

        JAMAICAN BOY - A con in which the hustler convinces the mark that
he's new in the community and needs some money to get settled.

        LAWSUIT COMING THROUGH - The con convinces the mark he's due to receive
a large sum of money in the near future, so he borrows against it.

        LOAN SHARK - Often working in factories, etc., the loan shark lends
people money against their next paychecks at very high rates of interest
(e.g., 25% is quite common).  When a person cannot repay on time, either his
credit may be extended or he may be threatened with physical violence.  At
these high rates of interest, it doesn't take long before all of a person's
paycheck has to go just to pay the interest on his loans.

        MICHIGAN BANK ROLL - Some play money or paper is rolled with a large
denomination bill around it, to flash around in order to impress people that
you're "loaded".  This may be done to impress women, or to "sucker in" a mark
in some congame.

        PROSTITUTION - Whether streetwalkers, call girls/guys, or bar
girls/guys, the game is the same.  Using a prostitute to lure a customer into
an armed robbery situation is not uncommon.  Another common scam is "the
Murphy", which basically amounts to tricking the customer out of their money
e.g., someone takes his money and gives him a false address to go to for the
desired services; or, the guide offers to hold the customers money "for
safekeeping" until the meeting is over.  Then, he disappears as soon as the
customer is out of sight.

        SLUMMING - Street vendors flash supposedly stolen items on the street
to gullible customers who think they'll get these "hot" items at very low
prices.  Usually, the items have been purchased at a wholesaler's rather than
stolen; although some street vendors are very creative  e.g., selling discarded
portable television boxes filled with stones to unsuspecting customers.

        SHOPLIFTING - If caught, the shoplifter often pretends to have misplaced
the sales receipt for the stolen items.  Protests of one's innocence can be
very convincing at times.

        SHORT CON - Quick, uncomplicated congames involving a single, brief
meeting with the mark  e.g., selling colored water as whiskey.

        TILL TAPPING - This quickfingered person distracts the cash- register
operator just long enough to grab some money out of the cash drawer.

        CUTTING DRUGS - Illegal sales of drugs often involve mixing them with
other substances ("cutting" them), in order to increase the volume of product
the dealer can sell, which increases the profits from the sales.  Unsuspecting
customers are not only cheated in this manner, but also sometimes become victims
of overdoses (sometimes fatal overdoses) when they accidently happen to purchase
uncut substances and have no idea of their real potency.

ANY COMBINATION OF THE ABOVE CAN BE USED TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE DAY AND SUPPORT
ONE'S HABITS ON THE STREET.  IN THE QUEST FOR SURVIVAL UNDER SUCH
CIRCUMSTANCES, SUCH THINGS AS HONESTY, INTEGRITY, TRUST, AND RESPECT FOR THE
PERSONAL WELL- BEING AND PROPERTY OF OTHERS QUICKLY FADE INTO INSIGNIFICANCE.
NOT ALL OF THIS ACTION INVLOVES SUBSTANCE ABUSERS AND ILLEGAL DRUGS, BUT MUCH
OF IT DOES IN OUR CURRENT SITUATION.


                             DRUG SLANG GLOSSARY

This list is by no means complete, but it may serve as an aid to interpreting
some current "street" names for drugs in common usage.

AMPHETAMINES - A's, beans, bennies, bombido, browns, cartwheels, coasttocoast,
copilots, dex, dexies, eye- openers, footballs, greenies, hearts, jellie
babies, jet, jolly beans, LA turnabouts, lid poppers, oranges, peaches, pep pills,
RPM's, roses, speed, sweets, truckdrivers, uppers, ups, vitamins, wakeups,
whites, zoom.

BARBITURATES - Barbs, blockbusters, bluebirds, blue devils, blues, christmas
trees, downers, green dragons, marshmallow reds, Mexican reds, nebbies, nimbies,
peanuts, pink ladies, pinks, rainbows, red and blues, redbirds, red devils,
reds, sleeping pills, stumblers, yellow jackets, yellows.

COCAINE - Bernies, bernice, blow, burese, C, carrie, cecil, charlie, cholly,
coke, corine, crack, dynamite, flake, gin, girl, gold dust, happy dust, heaven
dust, jet, joy powder, leaf, paradise, snort, snow, speedball (mixed with
heroin), stardust, sugar, toot, white dust, white girl, zoom.

HASHISH - Black, gold, hash, lebanese, scheesh.

HEROIN - Big Harry, black sundae (brown heroin cut with cocoa), boy, caballo,
doojee, dope, duige, H, hairy, hardstuff, harry, horse, joy powder, junk, salt,
schmeek, shit, skag, smack, snow, speedball (mixed with cocaine), stuff, sugar,
thing, white stuff.

LSD - Acid, big D, blotter, blue acid, chief, cubes, dot, hawk, heavenly blue,
instant zen, lysergic acid, pearly gates, royal blue, sugar, sugar lump,
wedding bells, windowpane, zen, 25.

MARIJUANA - Acapulco gold, ace, bhang, birds, boo, bush, butterflower, cannabis,
flannigans, ganja, gigglessmoke, goob, goober, grass, griffo, has, hay, hemp,
hemo, herb, Indian hay, J, jive, joint, locoweed, love weed, marijuana, Mary
Jane, pot.

METHAMPHETAMINE - Bombita, crash, crystal, doe, jet, meth, Methedrine, speed,
splash.

METHADONE - Jamidone, dollies, dolls, Dolophine.

MORPHINE - Cube, dreamer, emsel, hard stuff, hocus, M, melter, Miss Emma,
monkey, morf, morphie, morpho, tab, unkie, white stuff.

PHENCYCLIDINE - Angel dust, animal tranquilizer, cadillac, CJ, crystal joints,
cyclones, dust, elephant tranquilizer, embalming fluid, goon, hog, horse
tranquilizer, killer weed, KJ, KW, mint weed, mist, monkey dust, PCP, peace,
peacepill, peaceweed, pig killer, rocket fuel, scuffle, sheets, snorts, soap,
soma, supergrass, surfer, synthetic marijuana, T, tac, tanks, tic.

PSILOCYBIN - Mushrooms, rooms sacred mushrooms.

STP - DOM, serenity, syndicate acid, tranquility.


                                 DEBRIEFING

        In addition to whatever discussions take place while playing the game,
it's wise to spend some time in open discussion or "debriefing" after the game
has ended.  This allows everyone involved to gather and share thoughts related
to both the game experience and to the topic of substace abuse.  This is
often the point when the most productive and valuable exchanges take place
among players and/or between players and supervisors/therapists.  Although a
lot of any such discussion will be spontaneous, the following items are
offered here as suggested prompts to get discussions started or to break a
lull in a discussion.

What are the lessons to be learned from the simulation?

How realistic are the experiences described in the simulation?

What are the risks of the criminal lifestyle?

What are the risks involved in substance abuse?

Why do addicts become criminals?

People often make a distinction between physical dependence on or addiction
to a substance and psychological dependence on or addiction to a substance.
Are the consequences for the abuser and those around the abuser any different,
no matter what the nature of the dependence or addiction?

Are the end results of the simulation any different from the end results
commonly encountered by substance abusers who drift into a criminal lifestyle?

How do we know when a substance abuse problem exists?

What is the impact of these problems on a different segments of our society?

What conflicts need to be resolved by someone caught up in these types of
problems?  What about for those around them?

Who is affected by these problems?

What are the causes of these problems?

What are some solutions to these problems?

What improvements would you make in the simulation?

What alternatives to substance abuse does a person have when they're hurting,
confused, and desperate for acceptance from their peers?

Why is it so hard to say "NO"?

Who can you turn to for help?  Your parents?  Your friends?  Your teachers?
Your minister?  Exabusers?  A hotline or crisis center?  Local mental health
services?  Your family doctor?

Most of us feel pretty stupid letting someone else know we've lost control
over our own lives and done a lot of dumb things while we drifted aimlessly
through our daily experiences, but, should this stop us from asking for help
when we know we so desperately need it?

Nobody wants to be a "squealer" or "snitch", but what should you do if you
know someone's really getting dangerously involved in the types of problems
we're discussing here?  Should you feel responsible in any way for the others
you see in these types of situations?

What's the attraction to drugs?  Is it considered "cool", or are people just
out for "kicks"?

Are you aware that both organized crime and international terrorists are
deeply involved in drug trafficking?  So, the money paid for the stuff someone
buys locally is, in a sense, a "contribution" in support of such activities?

Aside from death, are you aware of any potentially shortterm or longterm
physical or psychoemotional problems or disabilities that substance abusers
risk contracting?

What are some useful techniques for dealing with peer pressures when you feel
you shouldn't go along with them?

How do you react to people you know who either are trying to "kick the habit"
or have recently "kicked the habit"?