Anna Undercover: Drugs & Prostitution, Part I

Posted by Anna Undercover February 5, 2010 at 10:58 a.m.

There are people who would have you believe that in a strip club, it's all sex, drugs, and rock and roll.

I mean, it certainly appears to be true when you walk into one.

Music blares. A wild girl dances around a pole. Half-naked girls teehee on laps of grinning guys in dark corners. There's grinding. Booze.

You can easily picture drugs in this atmosphere.

glossedover.jpg

There is no factual basis in what @The_Original_Bob is saying in this comment. To make this allegation is to be wildly out of touch with the reality on the ground. The carpeted ground, I might add, for you 90's Outhouse enthusiasts. :) I haven't even 'glossed over' anything. There's only one story you'll really sink your teeth into. I've just been writing about other things.

But people do love dirty laundry, so here it is.

Informing the history of drugs in strip clubs here in town, I have only second hand and even third hand stories. If these customers' and dancers' stories are to be believed (and I do believe a lot of them), there is a definite history of drug use and abuse in this industry, locally.

Older customers occasionally like to relate their glorious tales of the 80's and 90's, when they say they snorted cocaine from tabletops openly in various clubs. Girls and guys who work at the clubs share more recent war stories as well.

Based on these allegations, it appears I entered the stripping scene in Lawrence, Kansas after the owners had enough of the drug culture and began to clean house.

I don't know what prompted it, but it seems the owners, at various paces and in various ways, cracked down on drugs starting a couple years back. Girls dealing and buying drugs were fired. The fired girls went from club to club in the area, trying to make it work, but the offenders were eventually driven out of town when they were blacklisted at all of them.

At this point, the stories seem to indicate, drug use was relegated to the bathroom, especially after one club put security cameras in the dressing room.

"I accidentally sat on the toilet seat a couple years ago in the bathroom," a girl, who is terrified of public bathrooms, told me in June 2009. "I was up on stage shortly after and a customer asked me what the lines were on the backs of my thighs," she said. "I was like 'huh?' I turned around and there were little white lines across my them. I knew (name I can't remember) had done something in there!"

To satisfy your curiosity about current drug use at strip clubs here in Lawrence, here is a list of every interaction I have ever had with drugs (outside of alcohol, which will get its own entry) since I took this job:

First: Both customers and staff have made general statements that you might be interested in. Occasionally, customers say they smoked marijuana after work before they came to see us. Sometimes, a girl makes a big deal out of needing/taking "a Xanax." There are also umpteen jokes every night about the stereotype of coke-addicted strippers. I participate in these jokes.

These statements, and the people who said them, never once interfered with my pursuit of life, liberty, happiness, or income.

Second: At my first stripping job, at the North Lawrence Ballet, we were at the time encouraged to sell a certain amount of drinks per night. I had one too many "Jameson-with-Diets" in a short period of time, and accidentally threw a pole trick too hard. I finished the set, but went limping into the back, clutching my ribs, with tears in my eyes.

Big, big ow. Several ibuprofen later, I got back out on the floor and tried to put on a good face for customers and keep dancing, smiling, and selling, on stage and off.

Despite my efforts, it was clear by the end of the night that even taking double doses from my monster bottle of ibuprofen wasn't touching the pain.

"Take this percocet!" A girl demanded. It was a half tablet. I told her I didn't want it after all that ibuprofen, but would really like to take it for my roommate, who has frequent migraines and has trouble negotiating with doctors. She gave it to me, and I took it home.

Despite my intentions to pass it to my roommate, I ended up taking it a few hours later (around 5am) when I woke up to extreme spasming pain. My roommate drove me to the hospital, where I got the treatment I needed.

Third one. (Leaving the location out this time, sorry). I gave a customer a dance. "That was awesome!" he said. It was a really busy night, so I thanked him and started to go. "Do you want some weed?" he asked. "Uh, no thanks," I said. Uh, bouncer!

This guy's behavior was extremely dangerous because his utter stupidity and lack of consideration could have gotten the entire place shut down and left 50 people with nowhere to work. Hope the next jerk who tries to pull that crap enjoys the resulting 20 foot slide through the parking lot on his face.

Don't threaten my livelihood. I won't let it go.

Fourth one. Happened at the Outhouse. There's a small group of teenage girls that absolutely loves me. They came see me at least three, maybe four times between November and December.

"Do you know where to get some coke?" They asked me as the lights came on at the end of the night.

"I wouldn't even know where to begin looking for coke," I said. I began to parent them on the issue and they assured me that they "would be safe."

Right. Because we've legalized it and it's regulated and you know it's OK for your body and there's nothing to fear.

Fifth one. This was pretty recent, and it's definitely the one you're looking for!

I've heard girls make off-hand comments occasionally about how "so-and-so is definitely on something" and "OMG so-and-so is such a (substance) addict!" Occasionally, someone seems a little off, but in those instances, the behavior in question was not socially uncomfortable or extreme in any way. If they actually were on something, whatever it was never interrupted my work environment the way alcohol can.

But someone was definitely on something a couple weeks ago.

She was just passing through the area and working for us temporarily, so I didn't know her. Strippers are all self-employed contractors who 'rent' the stage they dance on each night. Because of this, it's fairly easy in this industry to work your way across the country, across the world, or just across a county or two. They join our more regular dancer/contractors for a couple nights for a week, just for a weekend, or even just one specific night. This is what the girl appeared to be doing.

Her first night, I was amazed at her sales skills. She's blonde and has pretty eyes, but she's not that pretty, and definitely didn't strike me as particularly engaging in conversation, but she kicked everyone's asses up and down the block in the first two hours we were open! Dance after dance, she was getting every 'yes,' and I was getting every 'no.'

A few shifts later, it was a very different picture.

She came in late, blaming car problems. Then she sat in the corner of the dressing room for hours. She tried to join the conversation everyone else was enjoying, but she was slurring her words and saying things that didn't make a lot of sense. It freaked me out. We were worried that she wasn't OK. When she wasn't talking, her head would drop and she would fall asleep for a few minutes. I have never seen someone so messed up on drugs--whatever they were.

Later that night, I was in the dressing room fixing my hair. Through the door, I heard a conversation.

"Hey, is Anna here?" a customer asked. I recognized his voice. Yay! I hurried up.

"Oh, hi," it was the girl on drugs, speaking really, really slowly. "Would you like some company?"

He sounded like a skittish animal. "Uhhh, I think I'm gonna wait for Anna," he said.

A bouncer swung open the door, pointed at me sharply, and beckoned. He's known for his reserved and quiet nature, but right then, his eyes were huge.

Oh lord.

I walked quickly to greet him.

The girl was standing near my customer, wavering in her high heels, wrapped in a blanket like a refugee. She looked and acted nothing like the sexy sirens we're supposed to be here. Her hair was shaggy, and her eyes were half-closed.

She was a mess, and she made us all look bad.

I whisked him away to our usual spot near the stage.

"Oh my god!" my customer said in a loud whisper. "She was so weird! Thank you for saving me!"

I spent the next twenty minutes apologizing to him repeatedly that he'd seen that kind of behavior. She nearly ruined his night.

That kind of experience affects my ability to do business, which I am jealously protective of.

I'm glad she hasn't been back. She is definitely persona non grata. She is also likely on the owner's "hell no" list of girls he won't let work there anymore.

...And that's all for my encounters with drugs in the stripping industry (other than alcohol, which will get its own entry).

"Why haven't you written about this stuff before?!" you ask.

Answer: Except for the story about our little refugee, none of it seemed interesting enough for you. FYI prostitution and alcohol will be covered in the next couple of posts.

Have you ever encountered drugs at work?

Delicious
Digg
Tumblr
Wordpress
Reddit
Copy and paste the link:

LJWorld.com doesn’t necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post. Read our full policy. Also, read about banned accounts and harassing comments.

AnnaUndercover (Anna Undercover) says…

Ta da. Hope this makes @The_Original_Bob and @Tubs_of_Love happy.

Also, there are so many commenting awards to give out that it will take lots of time to write it. They'll be on the next one.
February 5, 2010 at 11:05 a.m.
vuduchyld (anonymous) says…

Wow...gritty and real, right here! Well done, Anna.
February 5, 2010 at 11:11 a.m.
AnnaUndercover (Anna Undercover) says…

@vuduchyld
Thanks. I wanted it to be more creative, and well-written, but the info just had to get out there. Even if it's just a plainly written, kind-of-looked-it-over-once entry, it's important information and I don't want to leave people hanging when it matters for my business.

We're just *not* the dirty place that people seem to think.

I'm going to go pass out now. Work tonight. :)
February 5, 2010 at 11:18 a.m.
Vic (anonymous) says…

I think the "matter-of-fact"-ish way this was written is a good style for these more touchy subjects. I think the interest in these things is related to the same reason people can't look away when they pass a car accident. They honestly hope no one was hurt, but I'll be damned if they aren't looking for brains on the highway.
February 5, 2010 at 11:20 a.m.
AnnaUndercover (Anna Undercover) says…

I just did a little editing of the top part.

OK. Nap time now, for real. And I'm done editing.
February 5, 2010 at 11:40 a.m.
jwprimetime (anonymous) says…

Good stuff Anna. Unfortunately, sex, drugs and rock and roll are all too viable in many industries.
February 5, 2010 at 11:42 a.m.
lindseydoyle (anonymous) says…

Guys, what is the point in getting all worked up when you know nothing is going to happen? It is their job to get your money out of your wallets and that might include making you think they actually care about you. They don't. If you are throwing your money away in these places you are losers.
February 5, 2010 at 11:42 a.m.
Kontum1972 (anonymous) says…

its a wacky world
February 5, 2010 at 11:44 a.m.
AnnaUndercover (Anna Undercover) says…

@lindseydoyle
What? You prefer a video over a live show?

Now *that* is lame.
February 5, 2010 at 11:44 a.m.
AnnaUndercover (Anna Undercover) says…

@jwprimetime
:) Glad you enjoyed it.
February 5, 2010 at 11:51 a.m.
BMI (anonymous) says…

Again, a review posted by a woman who also danced at the outhouse contradicts Anna. While she doesn't say all dancers use drugs, she paints a clearly less pretty picture than Anna does. The date of the post is 4-2009, less than a year ago. See Suzanne B.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/outhouse-the-....

I also find it interesting that due to the nature of this being a family newspaper, Anna is able to make it seem like 'not much happens' in the way of body contact between clients and customers, and only mildly describes the actual dancing positions they normally do with men on the stage, especially to receive tips.
If you read the reviews on some of the links below, you will get a better view of what really goes on at the outhouse, according to others who have been there and are willing to speak out.
They are not trying to satisfy an editor, keep a blog running to advertise their job for tips.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/outhouse-the-...
http://www.tuscl.net/d.php?DID=1515

Nice little long running ad campaign you've got going here. It's a win win for so many. Anna pays her rent, the blog brings in hits for the paper, men get to see naked women they don't care about or have any responsibility for, wives and girlfriends don't know the men have been ogleing, touching and grinding, then they come home to the family bed. And the local paper is helping.
February 5, 2010 at 11:53 a.m.
AnnaUndercover (Anna Undercover) says…

@BMI
I've read that review. That may or may not have been true when she wrote it, but it's not the case now.

If I get graphic on descriptions of lap dances, I will be censored.

And don't be such a lazy commenter. If you think there's drugs here, or prostitution, then go and see for yourself.

All I can do is post what I see and experience here. Beyond that, I can't help you.
February 5, 2010 at 12:01 p.m.
AnnaUndercover (Anna Undercover) says…

@BMI
I actually used that review when I was debating whether to work at the Outhouse or believe the rumors I'd heard.

I decided I should just see for myself. And I did.

Perhaps you should be so bold.
February 5, 2010 at 12:03 p.m.
amesn (anonymous) says…

Thank you so much Anna for clearing up some questions from my post to your previous blog. I think it is easy to stereotype strippers and just strip clubs in general as a source for (name your poison) but the exchange of dime bags and eight balls is possibly more common at McDonald's or Walmart! Drug abuse is widely popular in my profession as a nurse, probably more than what would be assumed of your profession! I am glad to hear that your contact with drugs has been little to none and have to admit I am shocked customers don't try to solicit information as to where to obtain some more often! The dancer you described earlier sounded like a classic heroin addict possibly? Sad that she resorted to such measures!
February 5, 2010 at 12:28 p.m.
AnnaUndercover (Anna Undercover) says…

@amesn
I have no idea what in the heck she was on. It was really scary. We were all really worried.

Your comment reminds me of one more experience I didn't include in the post:

A 20-year-old dancer, standing with me and another girl near the jukebox, suddenly asked: "How can you tell you're still high on cocaine?"

Both I and the other dancer were visibly startled by this question. "Um, well, do you feel normal?" We asked.

"I can't tell. I did it yesterday (at home)," she said. "It was the first time I did it."

I had no idea what to tell her.

She was fired shortly after that for being too fat.
February 5, 2010 at 12:32 p.m.
AnnaUndercover (Anna Undercover) says…

@amesn
There is a high number of medical professionals near where I lived on the East coast. *They* were constantly offering me stuff I didn't want or need *way* before I ever came near a strip club.
February 5, 2010 at 12:33 p.m.
trollking (anonymous) says…

Wow, I'm glad you clear all that up. I'm going to get my mom a pole for her birthday. All my friends tell me she's hot. I hope my daughters grow up to be strippers too!
February 5, 2010 at 1:01 p.m.
jehovah_bob (anonymous) says…

@lindseydoyle

I believe in supporting my local economy.
February 5, 2010 at 1:32 p.m.
GardenMomma (anonymous) says…

You, Anna, are in denial. Just like having a beer or two to "loosen you up", a hit of pot, a line of coke, or bump of speed, can loosen a dancer up.

I would guess more than you think have used or routinely use drugs to get through the night. How many of them drink too?

You don't have to be plastered or obviously whacked out to be using. In fact, most will probably hide it if it is as discouraged as you say it is nowadays.

And that one dancer you mentioned, sounds like she was on heroine.
February 5, 2010 at 1:40 p.m.
lindseydoyle (anonymous) says…

BMI "Nice little long running ad campaign you've got going here. It's a win win for so many. Anna pays her rent, the blog brings in hits for the paper" Amen. And I bet most of the posters here are "her" co-workers trying to drum up business.
February 5, 2010 at 2:02 p.m.
BABBOY (anonymous) says…

Anna is like New York. She be fun to hang out with a weekend or two but way to intense to live with..............
February 5, 2010 at 2:07 p.m.
puddleglum (anonymous) says…

another very appropriate blog. thanks jk & lj world.
I guess since captain M got disappearded, the hit counters are sitting around collecting dust, so something needs to generate excitement, huh?
February 5, 2010 at 2:39 p.m.
Vic (anonymous) says…

What's the deal with the attackers all coming out of the woodwork? Upset about the K2 bust? She's only telling the stories you want to hear. Mad that they are not as dirty as you'd hoped?

As for drumming up business and "hits," it sure worked on you, didn't it? Thanks for giving the world proof you read this "dirty" blog.
February 5, 2010 at 2:46 p.m.
puddleglum (anonymous) says…

yo vic, didn't bother reading it.

looky, I'm giving it another hit!

this is fun!

Almost

as

fun

as

shoveling

snow!
February 5, 2010 at 2:54 p.m.
jehovah_bob (anonymous) says…

Why would one bother commenting on something they didn't read?
February 5, 2010 at 3:13 p.m.
Vic (anonymous) says…

You got me jehovah_bob.
February 5, 2010 at 3:19 p.m.
puddleglum (anonymous) says…

why would one bother commenting on a comment that they could not comprehend?

its a riddle trapped inside an enigma.

jehovah's strippers.....now that's a good band name.
February 5, 2010 at 4:38 p.m.
jwsuber (anonymous) says…

Regarding the supporting link in BMI's post, and the "review" from Suzanne B. in Los Angeles: Anna's descriptions are far closer to the reality of today's Outhouse. I've been there. It is clear to me that what BMI is citing as evidence is actually some malicious axe-grinding on the part of a disgruntled Suzanne B.

But BMI's links were worth reading to reminisce about the punk rock days.
February 5, 2010 at 4:39 p.m.
denak (anonymous) says…

Recently, there was a study done between law enforcement agencies, social services and abuse shelters, some commonalities emerged regarding stripper, drug use and prosititution.

Of course, one is certainly allowed to continue believing in "Anna's" Pollyanna version of stripping if one so chooses but the reality is thus:

1) The vast majority of these strippers/prostitutes do not file or pay any income taxes.

2)There is a high percentage of these women that are loosing their children due to neglect and/or abuse.

3)There are a high percentage of these women who are collecting social services benefits (medical and/or financial assistance and/or food stamps) while earning above average incomes in the combination career as a stripper/prostitute.

4)Drug use and dealing is pervasive in these clubs.

5)These women convince their “customers” that they are being abused and the courts will not help them, and then persuade these customers to assault their alleged perpetrators. In the most of these cases it was discovered the alleged perpetrators of abuse are actually their intimate partners who learned the facts about how they actually make a living and threatened to testify against them.

6)In every state queried, the perpetrator relationship/occupation with the highest level of substantiated cases of child maltreatment is; “Entertainer/Exotic (or equivalent title) where the relationship to the child in question is, biological mother.

7) The study surveyed 1,200 strippers, the majority reported that stripping was a front for their real "profession" of call girl.

As pointed out by another social worker (flinthills) in another post to an earlier blog, there is a huge correlation between a woman needing social services and stripping. Stripping is not empowerment. Of the women who come into the social service agency that I work for, the overwhelming majority strip as a way to pay for their habit. A habit they did not necessarily have prior to starting to strip. And for many, stripping was just one small step to prostituting.

"Anna" would have us believe that the owners/managers of The Outhouse are nice, sweet law abiding men who only have the best interest of the strippers in mind. If they are, then they are the only ones. The majority of managers are glorified pimps.

However, even if one does not care one way or the other about "Anna" stripping, one should care that so few of them pay taxes on their earnings. And that so many of them need social service help. They are using *your* money but not paying into the system that supports them.

At least at McDonalds, one pays into the system.

Dena
February 5, 2010 at 6:40 p.m.
tubs_of_love (anonymous) says…

@Anna - not too shabby, I too have some stripper drug stories. Perhaps I'll share later.

This may be a little off from the big picture, but you wrote, "Despite my intentions to pass it to my roommate, I ended up taking it a few hours later (around 5am) when I woke up to extreme spasming pain. My roommate drove me to the hospital, where I got the treatment I needed." I would just like to ask, do you go to the hospital any time you feel pain or get sick? It would be a lot cheaper to go to the doctors, you know?

This is the big picture. Stop going to the hospital, so you don't owe money, so you don't have to use cragslist as an ad, so you don't have to try and prove to everyone on LJworld that strippers are angels. You have way too much time on you're hands.
February 5, 2010 at 7:54 p.m.
jwsuber (anonymous) says…

@Denak - Can you link to or otherwise cite the study? I'd like to read it.
February 5, 2010 at 7:57 p.m.
deec (anonymous) says…

Please cite this study.
February 5, 2010 at 7:58 p.m.
blue73harley (anonymous) says…

Quite frankly in the few times I have been to strip clubs, I have been uncomfortable. That look, but don't touch thing doesn't work for me.

That being said, I don't get where Denak is going with the rants. Even IF Anna is trying to semi-glamorize the profession, why get so upset? Do you think it should be illegal?

I do believe Anna is probably correct in stating that drug usage is not what it used to be in clubs. I believe this simply because society in general has changed. For example, dope smokin' on the Hill was waaaaaaay more out in the open in the 80's than it is now. Don't ask me how I know. I don't really remember.
February 5, 2010 at 8:43 p.m.
Katara (anonymous) says…

AnnaUndercover (Anonymous) says…
She was fired shortly after that for being too fat.
~~~~~~~~~~~
How empowering and bold! Did you celebrate her somebodiness when you found out why she was fired?

I wonder if she felt the same euphoria you claim to when *she* drove to work.

*Random* asterisks *for* *fun*
February 5, 2010 at 9:44 p.m.
deec (anonymous) says…

I've spent a half hour or so on google and I just can't find any studies of strippers/exotic dancers and child neglect; strippers/exotic dancers not paying taxes (except in Sweden); strippers/exotic dancers and public assistance; or any of the other snide accusations in the long post above. Seriously, lady, if your delicate senses are so terribly disturbed by reading this writer's blog that you feel compelled to attack her on every entry, here's a brilliant solution: do stop reading it, dear, before you give yourself apoplexy. It does seem unlikely that anyone is holding a gun to your head and forcing you to read it.
February 5, 2010 at 11:34 p.m.
cait48 (anonymous) says…

AnnaUndercover (Anonymous) says…
She was fired shortly after that for being too fat.
________________________________________________

Yeah Katara I was a bit bothered by this myself. Like the modeling profession, one wonders if the reason she was attempting coke was to lose weight to keep her job. Thing is a savvy club owner would understand that there truly are men out there that prefer a little flesh on the bones.
February 6, 2010 at 12:24 a.m.
AnnaUndercover (Anna Undercover) says…

@lindseydoyle
Your attacks have nothing to do with what is written in this entry.

At any rate, you seem to have an issue with the fact that I take my clothes off and have fun doing it, and that I get paid to do so. I am not ashamed to admit to liking sex, the sex industry, or suggesting sexuality as a job. Perhaps this is the number one thing I offer: the girlfriend experience with someone who won't pretend to hate sex. Thank you for accidentally suggesting this to me.

In your last comment, you seem to take issue that I might get some business out of having this blog. I can identify no compelling reason to apologize for that. :P Especially since you demonstrate an ignorance for why I created this blog, which I already explained in the comments section of a recent post.

Homework. Do it. Even if you just read my profile.

@denak
This blog is about my experience as a stripper in 2009 and now 2010. It is unreasonable to hold me responsible for what happens in Sweden (if it was a Swedish study), or for what happened in the 90's, the 80's, or before I was born.

Please do share information about the study. I am very curious.

And please also heed other commenters observations that your attacks on me are not adding anything here. It's clear what your personal opinion is. I advise you to go out there and *experience* what it is you're talking about. Go and see!

@tubs_of_love
You're right, it's cheaper to see a doctor. It's also wiser to have health insurance, which I continue to shop for. *Sigh.*

That instance, however, was an absolute emergency. They actually ended up giving me Vicodin, which made me barf. Totally gross stuff. I also couldn't drive while I was taking it, so that was awesome. *And* I had a camping trip planned for that weekend. I made us all go on it despite the hospital trip and the injury that made it impossible for me to even help setting up the tent (except to be the necessary dead weight when the wind picked up. I was good for something, at least).

I know you hang on my every word, so I'm giving you all the details. :)
February 8, 2010 at 9:58 a.m.
AnnaUndercover (Anna Undercover) says…

@blue73harley
You can touch at many of the clubs in Kansas, just not in the bikini area. That's the only part we didn't sign up for. :)

Also, if you feel uncomfortable at the club, it might be because you have yet to encounter a really good professional party girl who can help you have a better experience.

It sounds like I'm suggesting the worst, lol. But I'm really not. What I spend most of my time doing is having conversations, making you laugh (in theory), and smoothing over any awkward moments with more comedy.

Re: your comment about "trying to glamorize the profession." I think one of things that makes it hard for some readers to trust me as a writer is that my enthusiasm comes across as an attempt to whitewash what it's like to strip. I will make an extra effort going forward to consider other perspectives whilst putting this information out there.

I want to be trustworthy, but what's working against me is the fact that the stereotypes are just *so* far off from the truth of what it's like to be a stripper in Lawrence right now (as you seem to suspect in your comment).

@deec
Apoplexy, lol! :) ::hugs:: I appreciate your supportive comments. Thank you very much.

@cait48
Re: the fired for being too fat thing. It is bothersome, and I hesitated to put that detail out there. I do plan to write about this, but I couldn't do it in this one without basically putting two entries in one.

I will get there. And I do share your concern for that part of our industry. I would also add that the girls we have right now are healthy, normal-looking girls.

I don't know why she experimented with cocaine. I know that before she tried it, she was already successfully losing weight. I could also have been wrong about why she was let go. I will look into this.

"The worst thing you can be as a journalist [or blogger] is wrong."

@stream47
I'm glad your friend did so well. There are others out there who have a good experience. I overheard a bouncer relating a similar story just Saturday night.

People seem surprised when they come across successful (in every sense) strippers. Sigh.
February 8, 2010 at 9:59 a.m.
AnnaUndercover (Anna Undercover) says…

@GardenMomma
I wouldn't use the word 'denial.' It sounds like you are pointing out that I can't monitor everyone's activities. This is true.

While there may be private activities that I don't see, I think it is silly to suggest that stripping is the only place drugs are used and/or abused. Are you suggesting this?

Also, where is the line between casual or recreational use and abuse? I do not know the answer to that question. Also, is it the use that we are condemning, or the abuse? Though I suppose the illegality of most activities make everyone's opinion(s) moot at this point.

In case you're interested, I've certainly been around individuals and groups of individuals who glamorize drug use. As a New England prep school alumna, I've seen my share (and heard rumors of even more) drug use by many in my circle of elite and elitist friends and acquaintances. Cocaine, prescription stimulants, and marijuana seem to be the drugs of choice. Use among this crowd is definitely still private/guarded.
February 8, 2010 at 10:19 a.m.
AnnaUndercover (Anna Undercover) says…

@denak
It occurred to me that if the study focused on participants in the programming at aid organizations, law enforcement agencies, and shelters, its population sample includes only the strippers who use these services.

I would be laughed out of these social workers'/police officers' offices.
February 8, 2010 at 12:56 p.m.