The Center for Hunger-Free Communities

Solutions Based on Science and the Human Experience

Drug Laws

Many men living in inner-city neighborhoods, including several of the fathers of the children involved in Witnesses to Hunger, sell drugs to make a living. While this is clearly a criminal activity, and drug possession and distribution in Pennsylvania is punishable by up to 15 years in prison, many young men see drug dealing as their only opportunity in areas where education is sub-par, legitimate jobs are scarce and wages are low. Experts are divided on ways to tackle drug trade and addiction in the United States—some argue that tighter regulations are needed, while others argue that the drug trade is so lucrative exactly because it is illegal.

Her dad… he doesn’t have a job but he gets money, he takes care of his daughter. And I know what he does to do it… it’s very hard in America, to get a job if you have a criminal record, it’s very hard... I don’t approve of it because anything could happen. What if somebody gets mad and does something to him while he's got my daughter?

They hide their needles and stuff in there and sell them right out of the newspaper receptacle.

Even though that’s empty you can smell the embalming fluids.  It’s the worst smell in the world.  It smells like mint from far away, but when you get closer if you know what “wet” smells like you know it’s wet.  My kids are like two feet tall, and they’re right next to it, so they’re smelling that.  That’s disgusting.

This is a picture of an empty "wet" bottle.  Ashley found it under the slide of the play ground.  "Wet" is marijuana soaked in embalming fluid.

 

"We just need some love, that’s all. We just need  to get the love back in the city. This is supposed to be the City of Brotherly Love. This is not. This is the city of kill your brother- Killadelphia is what they call it now."

 

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