Russia: A Hard Core Drug Problem is in Russia!
Hello,
Not all news is that wonderful from Russia! I have watched a problem develop in Russia. This is a problem that I watched develop in America also… (remember needles washing up on the ocean shores?)
Drugs of all types – Now the big problem is “heroin”!
Russia says it has become the world’s biggest consumer of heroin.The head of Russia’s anti-narcotics service, Victor Ivanov, said that seizures of Afghan heroin were up 70%. (Link)
You want Proof? Lets take a walk down our stairs in our building:
They leave the needles on the window sills!
They try to hide them on top of the lights!
They just leave them where they used them!
These are just the pictures of the needles, I chose not to show everything. Seems our kids have learned enough in this world with out someone showing them what to use to cook the heroin with.
These needles are located on 9 out of the 16 floors in our building. On the first floor they run a very substantial business of drugs. I have seen pot being the biggest seller, but about a year ago I saw an increase in crack and then the signs of heroin started to appear in the stairway.
I learned all I know from the huge drug problem that Americans have. I was an employer of huge numbers of people in my time. Now I see that Russia has a huge drug problem also.
Sad…
Kyle & Svet
PS:
Now as I walk the dog today we pick up the needles so that kids do not get aids or hepatitis or many other diseases.
comments always welcome.
That's very unfortunate. While Heroin has a reputation in Russia, as Russia's wealth grew I have been reading that the drug problem was being brought under control. It is unfortunate to see it rising once more. The sudden rise in drug use generally correlates with poor living conditions … which the Financial Crisis is likely propagating. The next problem will likely be a rise in small crime, possibly followed by heavier organized crime.
I don't know much about Ukraine's drug problems, but the rise in small crime is quite dramatic. Auto theft, mugging and "cleaning apartments" has risen sharply in Odessa. This worries me for a number of reasons, which is actually leading me to leave Ukraine until the Financial Crisis eases and Ukraine gets back on her feet (my business is more or less dead now anyway, so it is no big deal).
I see that you have no intention of leaving Moscow, but maybe moving into a safer location would be a good idea. Are you known in your apartment complex as the American yet? I really don't mean to cross the line, but you may wish to consider means of securing your apartment if moving into a different location is out of the question. I'm sure you have had a run in or two with the local police, and know how 'helpful' they are in times of need … that is, unless you offer them something in return.
These photos are shocking. I've never seen something like this before other than walking in on two dudes snorting coke off the front of some gorgeous topless gal at a prominent New York dance club. The locals are going to have to pick themselves up by their bootstraps and kick the habit. Easier said than done as heroine is the most addictive substance on the planet(short of nicotine) according to a biologist friend of mine. And the danger to those who come in contact with these needles is scary. Do be careful Kyle. Even a nick could be the end of you. These types of narcotics are a scourge no doubt. I for sure don't have an answer.
Zhann, So you are in Odessa. My favorite city in Ukraine. I do hope things settle down for my return this summer. I kind of expected certain crime patterns to increase there as I expect there are a lot of young people without work. They'll do what they have to do to survive…..
My observations regarding drug use in the US is that it seems to be more prevalent among the monied folks. Of course that was during my college years when my fellow students were snorting and smoking their parents' retirement. Seems like I was one of the few nerds that didn't do any illicit drugs. My indulgence was cheap beer and the occasional whiskey sour. Preferably right before a test!
Hey Zhann,
No I understand where you are coming from and we are secure with more steel doors and locks than I ever had to go through just to get home, in my life. Seems people in Moscow went through a stage of putting steel doors in every opening that they could find and still put up steel doors in every opening they can find.
I will say that as I watch the news and the drug busts that the police are doing all over Russia it is getting scary. Just today the RIA announced that over 950 kilos of heroin was just confiscated by police.(2000 + pounds) A ton of heroin! WOW
Sorry to hear you have to leave Ukraine, hope everything works out OK.
Kyle
Hey Blackseabrew,
These are the nice good photos. Svet helped me and we cleaned up 25 needles and multiples of drug paraphernalia. We had a whole sack full of stuff. Going to be some grouchy druggies today when they find all their stuff gone. Kids run this stairwell all the time and I just could not see letting them get stuck by a needle.
Yes – we were very very careful…
Svet was very upset at what she saw. I had kept some of it from her but realized it was time to educate her on what to look for. The problem is getting much worse and when we have to walk through the front door and deal with a bunch of crack heads it starts to make me angry.
Wont be the first time I have dealt with this type of life style and probably not the last.
The drug busts are constant and never ending in Moscow. The cops really are trying to stop it but they are outnumbered a thousand to one. Russians seem to look the other way on stuff like this and Muscovites are no different.
You know the problem is bad when you have tons of confiscated drugs a day found at borders. Think how much does not get found.
In America before I came to Russia. I lived in Covington, Kentucky and the drug problem was so bad that I had to sit every night with a gun in one hand, in my easy chair and sleep with one eye open. I was robbed all the time. You lost your car windows if you left anything of value in the backseat. I remember watching people shooting up heroin while sitting on my front porch, then as they try to get off the stuff they take meth and become meth heads.
Terrible vicious cycle…
Thanks for stopping by.
Kyle
Sorry to hear that, I know that the Soviet Union did not have that kind of problem with drugs.
I watch the kids around me everyday. They have track marks on their arms and their eyes are always glazed over.
Damn Commies!
WB
Serves those people right. Pick on Georgia.
Jazman
Hi,
Just wanted to say I use to do heroin but I kicked the habit and it took 2 years to do it. I lost a friend to heroin also.
Just do not do it are you will die.
Ben There
Hey Ben There,
Thanks and I hope that you stay clean. Life is much better with out drugs.
Thanks for leaving a comment.
Kyle & Svet
Oh, I hope that all you Russians are OK.
What race are Russians are they Chinese? I heard that Chinese have a real problem with Opium.
Isn't that what heroin comes from.
I will prey for you all every night for a week and we will have a prayer at church this Sunday.
I just love this blog. Don't do drugs!
Margret
Hi Kyle … I have spoken to several of my friends in Moscow recently about this subject. None of them have the same experiences, but there is an interesting piece of info you should probably be aware of, if you aren't as of yet.
The common concensus is that you live in a house with a dealer … which you seem to be aware of. The fact is, unlike in the states, in Russia the police find dealers so that they can milk their clients for bribes. This is very common practice.
First, the police find a dealer, then force him to hand over X amount of people per week. When someone buys from him, he calls his cop letting him know who bought what. The cop is usually waiting nearby, snatching the person, and shaking him down for what he can get. Since many users are wise to these tactics, they generally need to do the drug as quickly as possible so that when they are caught they at least have nothing on them … hence your building is littered.
So, if you want to get rid of this, you need to get rid of the dealer. It is actually much easier than you think. The best way, call the local media. Or, you can call the police (not so good considering they are on the payroll). Of course, you can cause problems for them, but that may amount to reprecussions so that isn't the best idea.
Of course, there is always plan B … get rid of the dealer physically. This is easily done in Russia, and I can help you with that
Black … well, I don't want to give you the wrong impression, Odessa is still peaceful. I am leaving primarily because my business is dead. While crime is up, and it is likely to keep rising, I am well connected in this city so I am not too worried. If you are ever in need of anything in Odessa, I would be more than happy to lend a hand to a fellow American.
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