Gerry caught me in the hallway of the shelter. He wanted to talk.
He was obviously high on crack.
The conversation went something like this (read Gerry’s lines as fast as you can to simulate how he talked):
Gerry: My boss won’t pay me the money he owes me. I don’t even like the job. It is dirty and they don’t appreciate me. The pay is good, though. Can I sue him? I should totally get a lawyer and sue him. He can’t treat me that way. I like my coworkers, though. They’re nice. But my boss is a piece of work. How dare he withhold my check. So, can I sue him Ryan?
Ryan: Well, that kind of depends on…
Gerry: [Interrupting me] Yeah, because this is total BS. He owes me at least $250. I’m not going to take it. What a jerk. There are lawyers and courts to punish people like him. So, what do you think? Do I have a case?
Ryan: Well, maybe if…
Gerry: [Interrupting me] Uh huh, because everyone keeps quitting because he is such a bad boss. I won’t be treated like this. He’ll miss me if I quit…
The conversation went on… and on… and on… and on… and on…
If you’ve never had a conversation with someone who is high on crack, here’s what you need to know:
- It goes really fast.
- It is really annoying
Substances and Risk Levels of Aggression
The media has made people afraid of “crackheads” running around pillaging small villages and spreading general mayhem.
That’s rarely the case.
Most of the time people high on crack are just annoying to talk to because they just won’t stop talking.
Our team delved into the research on the link between different substances and aggression. It was fascinating and surprising.
From the research, here’s the five-point scale we developed (1 is lowest risk of aggression; 5 is highest risk):
- Level 1: Opioids/Heroin/Fentanyl & Marijuana
- Level 2: Inhalants
- Level 3: Cocaine/Crack
- Level 4: Meth
- Level 5: Alcohol
The research is clear: Alcohol increases aggression more than any other substance.
For me, personally, I have two takeaways from this:
- I need to be less wary of “hard” drugs causing violence. I still need to be careful (as always) but remember that the media isn’t always accurate.
- I need to be more wary of alcohol causing violence.
If you are interested in learning more about de-escalating conflict with people who are drunk or high, join us for our next training.
Have a great week!
Ryan
