You Can Commonly Encounter Drug Dealers on the Streets
Broadcaster Hong Jin-kyung was shocked after witnessing the reality of Tenderloin, San Francisco, USA, known as the so-called 'drug street.'
A fentanyl addict, a narcotic painkiller, stands hunched over on Tenderloin Street in San Francisco, USA. YouTube channel 'Gongbu Wang Jjin Cheonjae'
On the 12th, a video titled "Hong Jin-kyung tightly closes her eyes at the worst drug street in the US (shocking, addict interview)" was uploaded on the YouTube channel 'Study King Genius Hong Jin-kyung.' Hong Jin-kyung said, "I will look into the darkness of San Francisco, USA," and visited the Tenderloin district, infamous as the 'drug street' of San Francisco, accompanied by a local nurse.
Many people on Tenderloin street were addicted to fentanyl. Fentanyl, a narcotic painkiller, is cheap and easily accessible, leading to a recent increase in addicts. Fentanyl is also called the 'zombie drug' because it causes brain damage, making users stand still in a hunched posture as if their bodies are stiff, or feel itching to the point of scratching their skin until it bleeds. In fact, on Tenderloin street visited by Hong Jin-kyung, fentanyl addicts were seen slouching with their bodies hanging down, standing bent over, or lying on the street.
A fentanyl addict, a narcotic painkiller, stands hunched over on Tenderloin Street in San Francisco, USA. YouTube channel 'Gongbu Wang Jjin Cheonjae'
When Hong Jin-kyung said, "There is a strong urine smell here," the nurse accompanying her explained, "Drug addicts consider the street their home, so they just urinate or defecate on the street." When Hong Jin-kyung cautiously asked a man in his 40s she met on the street, "Why are you here?" the man ramblingly replied, "I tried to find true love." A woman in her 20s who was with him added that although she has a family, she lives on this street to use drugs. It was easy to see drug dealers casually passing by among children playing and people enjoying picnics, selling drugs. The nurse said, "It's like selling puffed rice snacks on the highway in (our country) in the past; here, they sell drugs like that."
Another man approached Hong Jin-kyung's group and demanded money. The man had deep scars on his cheeks. The nurse explained, "Those are from scratching after using drugs." When Hong Jin-kyung asked, "Does the itching lessen if you stop using drugs?" the nurse emphasized, "It gets worse. That's why they stick band-aids all over their bodies."
The nurse continued, "Using drugs causes symptoms of schizophrenia, including auditory and visual hallucinations. They feel itchy, saying 'There are bugs on my body.' They even feel itching in their teeth, causing them to grind their teeth continuously, damaging their gums and causing cavities," adding, "Their metabolism speeds up. So no matter how much they eat, they remain hungry and end up scavenging through trash bins for food." She also said, "Sexual arousal increases, leading to serious issues of sexual harassment and assault. Regardless of age or gender, users become both perpetrators and victims." She further noted that babies born to pregnant women who used drugs are born addicted as well.
A drug development researcher accompanying Hong Jin-kyung explained about fentanyl, "Unlike other drugs, people don't seek it for pleasure but because the pain is worse when they don't take it, so they keep using it." Hong Jin-kyung lamented, "It's miserable," and sighed, "There is nothing good about it." The video ended with a warning subtitle saying, "Drugs are a maze with no exit. Do not be curious or interested. A moment's choice can ruin your life."
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