① The Fentanyl War on the Streets of LA
The United States is waging a war against Fentanyl, a highly addictive painkiller. The drug problem in the U.S. is so severe that the term “Fentanyl Zombies” has emerged. Fentanyl addiction is the leading cause of death among young adults in the U.S.
Fentanyl, a painkiller used for cancer patients, is 50 times more addictive than heroin and 100 times more addictive than morphine. In the U.S., a single pill is sold for $2 to $3, and the lethal dose is a mere 2mg.
The Fentanyl distributed by drug dealers looks identical to legal prescription drugs, making it easy to trade among students.
People staggering around, their brains damaged by Fentanyl addiction, are being witnessed across the U.S. Philadelphia, infamous for Fentanyl addiction, is now referred to as “Zombie Land.” It’s been reported that the government is distributing free syringes to drug addicts in this area. Videos of people addicted to Fentanyl wandering the streets have spread online, causing a great shock.
Los Angeles is also suffering from the problem of drug addicts. Downtown LA has essentially become a drug den.
② Emergency in Koreatown
Amidst this, Koreatown in LA is no longer a safe area. Last year, nearly 700 homeless people died from Fentanyl overdoses in the city, including Koreatown. This figure only includes the cases of Fentanyl addiction that are currently a social issue in the U.S., and the actual number is estimated to be much higher.
MacArthur Park, located between Koreatown and downtown LA, is a gathering place for drug addicts. You can commonly see people openly injecting drugs, even during the daytime. Homeless people are sprawled out in every alley, taking drugs and staggering around. They steal cash or items from nearby stores and beg from passersby.
Patrol cars are constantly dispatched, but nothing much changes. Essentially, this area has been abandoned.
This area used to be full of active residents just 30 years ago. It held special significance for Koreans. But the situation has changed significantly. Neighborhoods with a high homeless population always have ongoing drug-related problems. The number of homeless people in Koreatown has more than doubled in the past five years until 2020.
Fentanyl is also being distributed in nightclubs and other entertainment establishments in Koreatown. Most of the suppliers were Korean gangs. They systematically sold drugs in karaoke bars and bars in Koreatown. They are selling various drugs while touring nightclubs, but unlike other ethnic gangs, they are not highly exposed and are escaping police surveillance. Owners and employees are too afraid of retaliation to report them.
③ Surge in Korean Deaths Due to Drugs
Koreatown in LA was not originally a place with a severe drug problem. The first generation of immigrants had a strong aversion to drugs. But as generations changed, so did the situation.
Pastor Han Young-ho of the Korean-American Drug Elimination Center says that drug trafficking is currently active in Koreatown. Tent cities for homeless people are set up all over Koreatown. They are trading drugs through bartering in these places.
In this situation, the security of Koreatown is also becoming unstable. According to data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 105 Koreans died from drug overdoses and abuse in the U.S. last year. The number has increased yearly, with 44 in 2018, 72 in 2019, 97 in 2020, and 98 in 2021.
Drug addiction is spreading among teenagers due to Fentanyl, which can be obtained for a few thousand won. Even elementary school students as young as 13 and 14 are getting involved. Drug trafficking has become more accessible through social media, leading to an increase in Fentanyl use among teenagers. The number of students collapsing from drug overdoses in middle and high schools is increasing.
In June, a 20-year-old Korean-American man was found dead in a residential area in Koreatown, LA.
Fentanyl, a narcotic painkiller, was detected in his system. In February, a 33-year-old man named Shin was also found dead, and Fentanyl and Philopon were seen in his system.
At a church and drug rehabilitation center near Koreatown, LA, about 120 Koreans are receiving treatment for drug addiction. Drug addiction has increased significantly since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Not only in LA but also in Koreatowns in other areas, the situation was the same.
By. Han Mia
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