Homeless in Vancouver: What panhandling bought someone today

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      Today another panhandler showed me what it’s all about—what the majority of his proceeds went towards buying.

      He calls it “down”, but by any other name it’s still supposed to be two flaps of heroin.

      Two flaps of “number one”, my friend insisted. Twenty dollars each, he said, but not for him—he got it two for $30!

      Such a bargain.

      He tells me that as soon as his employment insurance cheques start rolling in—in two weeks, he hopes—he’s enrolling in a methadone drug treatment program.

      We all wish him luck with that I’m sure.

      The contents may be nothing to sneeze at (I was tempted) but it was the origamilike packaging they waste on this shit that really caught my eye. Who would have the time and patience to fold each one of these? 

      Stanley Q. Woodvine is a homeless resident of Vancouver who has worked in the past as an illustrator, graphic designer, and writer.

      Comments

      13 Comments

      anoniconic

      Apr 14, 2014 at 10:18pm

      This is news to you? A drug addict is panhandling and homeless? Surprises everywhere! Being homeless and panhandling are usually the end result of drug addiction. Better to ask how they became a drug addict, then what they are buying with panhandled money. Oh, right, I forgot, people wake up from their well-ordered, functional lives (like the one you are privileged to lead), and say to themselves, "You know what I think I'll do today? Go buy some heroin and beg for money on the streets to pay for it." Why don't you write that story? Instead of the breaking news that panhandlers spend their money on drugs.

      Stanley Q Woodvine

      Apr 14, 2014 at 11:26pm

      @anonicimic

      True. I have a well-ordered life, I try to get a decent amount of sleep (six hours) every night in my oh-so-cozy parkade.

      I have breakfast most every morning in the same restaurant at the same time and then I go about my business as a binner to earn the money to buy my food, do my laundry, pay for my storage locker, my Internet stick, and so I can fix and replace my gear, etc.

      After my day is over I again retire to my parkade, usually around the same time and do a bit of reading or blogging before bed. Sometimes I reply to comments like I'm doing now.

      I've now been homeless now for nine years. I'm very lucky that I don't have a drug habit (not all of us do).

      By the way, I feel posts on a blog are best considered like pieces in a jigsaw puzzle.

      Don't expect the whole picture to be contained in any one piece -- blogs are definitely not like holograms.

      If the picture I present confuses you don't worry I've puzzled people all my life.

      And yes I feel quite privileged in more ways than I could possibly enumerate.

      And now I feel sleepy.

      comeonreally? tryreadingbeforeyoucomment

      Apr 14, 2014 at 11:28pm

      @anoniconic "Stanley Q. Woodvine is a homeless resident of Vancouver who has worked in the past as an illustrator, graphic designer, and writer."

      Stanley is making no claims that this is breaking news, he's giving us (non-homeless ppl with laptops) a small cushy online peak into the world of the homeless in our city. Take what value out of this story that you want. But make sure to actually read the whole thing before making your judgements. Ugh.

      Lee

      Apr 15, 2014 at 8:13am

      Did you find out why they fold it that way?

      Stanley Q Woodvine

      Apr 15, 2014 at 11:43am

      Best explanation I can come up with is that the trade in heroin considerably predates Ziploc bags and everyone involved continues to use the old time-tested methods.

      Basically they're creatures of habit.

      Random

      Apr 15, 2014 at 11:50am

      Two Reasons: Post-its are way cheaper than baggies, and a flap can be made in 5 seconds and can be re-used by the customer is desired.

      david

      Apr 15, 2014 at 4:09pm

      cool story...keep them coming stanley!

      drugsinabag

      Apr 15, 2014 at 4:12pm

      If you ever had any drugs in a baggie, you would know that there is always residue lost. Doesnt even have to be drugs. Put some sugar in a baggie and you can see the same "static cling". The matte surface of the paper is easier to "wipe clean" than anything plastic.

      and really? time to spend folding paper is astounding to you? I know bloggers are supposed to not know how to deal with paper, but i assure you, folding a piece of paper in half a few times would take me less than 30 seconds. And I'm not even a career paper folder! just an amateur!

      Graham

      Apr 15, 2014 at 6:49pm

      I like to think that the drug dealers are just being environmentally friendly. Addicts, remember to reuse or recycle your flaps.

      tedeastside

      Apr 15, 2014 at 9:04pm

      drugs mean more to vancouvers economy than cars mean to Detroit