After hurricane Katrina in 2005, 1,836 people died and over 214,000 homes were damaged or destroyed. Many suffered depression and post traumatic stress, and as a result the demand for illegal drugs sky-rocketed. Squatters raided the abundant empty properties that now lay vacant for anything they could get their hands on. Favourites included prescription meds such as Adderall and Ritalin. Addicts described their delight at pill bottles that lay scattered in the streets after the flood waters subsided. They were now consumers of a derelict environment that was a mecca for drugs.
Before Katrina hit, over 67% of the population was African-American, one in eight did not return. One drug dealer stated that, ''after Katrina the skin colour of my clients changed'' and stating that most of his clients are now 'gutter punks' - young, white, homeless travellers.
The murder rate in New Orleans is ten times the national average. It was a violent city before the infamous storm, but with the explosion of small time drug dealers fighting over turf, violence has spread to new parts of the city.
Did the drugs flow help re-build New Orleans? Citizens found themselves awash with government relief money. Many used it to get back on their feet but some used it to self-medicate. Money that was handed out for things such as rent allowance didn't always find it's intended use. One man spending his $5000 relief money on an instalment of $2000 of marijuana to become a small time dealer.
Hurricane Katrina dramatically changed the drug trade in New Orleans. After the hurricane people were devastated and drug dealers saw this as an opportunity. New Orleans is not the city to kick a habit. Small time dealers are now scattered across the city making more drugs available to more people. Until the next hurricane, The Big Easy will remain the city that sobriety forgot.
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Louis Armstrong smoked weed everyday, so what's new?
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