TikTokkers and YouTubers have come under fire for visiting a poor Philadelphia community only to film residents high on a powerful sedative called “tranq” in a movement known as “tranq tourism.”
Several social media videos documenting drug use in low-income neighborhoods in Kensington show people lying on the ground or zoom in on users who have taken the painkiller, which can cause difficulty standing upright and flesh-eating wounds.
The videos often mock people with these symptoms, calling them “zombies,” “junkies” or even “fiends,” an exploitative trend that was recently highlighted again in The Guardian Sunday
In several clips, drug users are questioned about their personal lives in a way that opponents argue plays up their vulnerability after they take drugs.
Tranq is the nickname for xylazine, a horse tranquilizer that officials warn may be hidden in cocaine supplies or laced with fentanyl, a highly lethal synthetic opioid.
Strong sedatives cause difficulty breathing, dangerously low blood pressure, slow heart rates and wounds that can become infected, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Tranq is very cheap; a kilogram of the dangerous powder can be bought online from China for as little as $6, the Drug Enforcement Agency warned last year.
“These videos don’t pull on the heartstrings; they make these people look like animals in a zoo instead of individuals who need help,” said Dr. Geri-Lynn Utter, clinical psychologist to the outlet.
“It’s become very exploitative here; people from all over Europe and the US come to the area and put their phones or cameras in people’s faces. It hurts because it doesn’t help.
“It continues to be inhumane. These people were not in the right frame of mind to consent to or participate in social media clips.”
Videos posted to social media have documented ongoing drug use in Kensington, a low-income neighborhood in Philadelphia. Teun Voeten/Sipa USA Some videos show people lying on the ground after taking a powerful sedative known as “tranq.” TikTok / @thebizzleeffect
But the videos persist, with Sarah Laurel, founder of Savage Sisters, a non-profit organization that supports those affected by substance abuse, reportedly estimating that there are now “over 150 channels dedicated to Kensington and all the things that happen here.”
Their faces are rarely obscured and #Kenzingtonzombies have millions of views.
In a video posted by “Addiction After Dark” that has reached 1.5 million views, a woman is filmed in an unspecified location rocking back and forth.
The interviewer asked her how old she was, and the woman replied, “I’m sorry, please give me a moment.”
He then raised his hands in front of his face and asked the person filming him to pay his respects.
“Addiction After Dark” captioned the video: “He’s NOT crazy, he has a disease.
“Addiction is a disease that needs treatment. Spread awareness, stay informed.”
But as TikTokker commented, “This is very exploitative. Sharing this video doesn’t help him.”
In many other videos, content creators often use terms like “helping” or “raising awareness” to justify their videos, and experts say some people believe their clips are really the only way to show support or shine a light on the drug problem in Kensington.
But there is usually no way to donate funds or help those who are watching, and in some cases, content creators have set up online fundraisers for addicts who have never seen the money, the content creator referred to only as “Jeff” told The Guardian.
Others also admitted that they made these videos mostly for money.
Profits on both TikTok and YouTube depend on the reach of videos.
In 2022, the typical compensation for YouTube content creators in the US will be about $4,600 per month, according to Influencer Market Hub.
The website, which is owned by Google, typically pays about $20 for every 1,000 views.
TikTok is similar, but users must have at least 10,000 followers to start earning money.
Jeff, however, believes there is a way to film this video and pour the money back into the community.
Another video zooms in on users who have taken the drug, which can cause difficulty standing upright and flesh-eating wounds. Stephen Yang Opponents of this “tranq tourism” argue that content creators should channel their money back into the community. Stephen Yang
He makes about $1,000 a month, which he spends on wound care and supplies such as clothing, according to the report.
Laurel, whose organization offers resources such as wound care, showers and daily supplies from its storefront, agrees.
“Don’t just show up and record, bring resources, clean up,” he said.
“Ask the community what they need.”
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
