Elliot, a 24-year-old living on the streets of MacArthur Park, shares that he needs to come up with $50 a day to prevent debilitating fentanyl withdrawals that he compares to the feeling of dying. Unfortunately, as someone who is homeless, unemployed, and without any possessions beyond a backpack, meeting this goal is incredibly challenging. Like many others struggling with addiction, Elliot resorts to selling stolen items to street vendors in the area to make money for fentanyl. MacArthur Park has become an epicenter for the intertwined issues of homelessness, addiction, and theft, leading to a deadly epidemic. The neighborhood sees overdoses on a daily basis, making it ground zero for this crisis.
According to the most recent data from the county’s Department of Public Health, there were 1,504 fatal overdoses caused by fentanyl in 2021 at the county level, which is a staggering 1,280% increase from 2016. Elliot explains that while he was able to quit heroin, quitting fentanyl is a much more daunting task that he believes would physically kill him if he attempted to quit cold turkey.
Fentanyl is incredibly potent, being 50 times stronger than heroin based on weight, as stated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The psychoactive effects of fentanyl are also much more intense than other drugs, with its effects wearing off within two to three hours of use. This leads to frequent withdrawals and evidence suggests that these withdrawals are even more painful than those experienced from heroin.
Unfortunately, due to limited access to substance use treatment, people in MacArthur Park often resort to extreme measures to obtain fentanyl. Many homeless individuals shoplift goods to sell to street vendors, a process referred to as “boosting.” Detective Stephen Beerer of the LAPD explains that the addition of a new Target store in the area has led to a significant increase in shoplifting and fencing operations at the park. The LAPD now sends officers from all over the city to MacArthur Park for drug recognition training due to the high prevalence of fentanyl use in the area.
The spike in fentanyl use has had a devastating impact on the Westlake neighborhood surrounding MacArthur Park. With a population of over 116,000 and a high poverty rate, the neighborhood has long grappled with issues such as drug use, gang violence, and homelessness. The fentanyl epidemic has only exacerbated these challenges.
For individuals like Elliot, engaging in the act of boosting is a dangerous full-time job that takes a toll on their physical health. They become consumed by the need to obtain fentanyl, leaving little time for basic self-care or accessing essential services. Elliot, an avid fan of West Coast rappers from the 1990s, dreams of working in the music industry but is often robbed and unable to hold onto a phone for communication.
Elliot’s daily routine involves multiple trips to boost items, often going as far as Long Beach to obtain stolen goods to sell. He trades these items for fentanyl from street vendors and spends the rest of his day trying to sell the stolen goods before his withdrawals worsen. This constant cycle leaves him physically ill and barely able to take care of himself.
The situation in MacArthur Park serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for comprehensive solutions to address the interconnected challenges of homelessness, addiction, and crime. Without adequate access to substance use treatment and support for individuals like Elliot, the fentanyl epidemic will continue to devastate communities like Westlake. It is imperative that we prioritize resources and interventions to save lives and heal these communities.
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