Okay, so I've managed to find a list that gave me prices per gram of cocaine, but I really have no clue how much use a gram is. Err, it's not for me. It's for the fictional host of a fictional TV Show who prefers taking some before he goes live. Now, imagining that he's a regular user, but apparently not an addict, how much would he buy? The best of my experience with it is Tony Montana and the tiny little bags they show on random TV shows about drugs and since my fictional host is sending my main character to get some it's not gonna be a brick. I don't need exact measurements, but something that remains in the realm of believable. Now excuse me while I go explain my search history to the IT department.
If you bought a gram, which the TV show host can probably afford to do, he would just do little bumps as an anxiety crusher before he goes on live. So a gram would go a long way. Like maybe he could make it last a week. But if he's going out and doing coke on a night out then he might do a gram with a friend in one go. If he did this on the regular then the little bumps wouldn't do a lot at all and he'd probably need a line but would get a bit strung out, Patrick Bateman style. I knew a guy who used to have a bump on his fag breaks at work and could still operate in his sales role no problem.
A gram is the little 1.5 x 1.5 inch baggie one typically sees drug dealers dealing. It's a one-night-party, personal use amount, not a share amount. By the time it makes it to the baggies, it's been cut with any number of cutting agents to extend the bulk amount. It may be cut with agents that have zero psychoactive effect, or it can get cut with things like meth, which are cheaper, and render a similar effect as the coke. A brick is typically a kilo of coke, but it's also typically uncut, meaning no fillers have been added yet to extend it. In the U.S. a brick can range form $10k to $15k and like all drugs, it depends heavily on how much you're buying. They more you buy, the better the deal. Drug dealers want to move the merch as quickly and discreetly as possible, so taking a large amount off their hands in a single buy is incentivized.
also be aware that baggies are an american thing... in the UK (and i think i'm right in saying most of europe) coke in personal use amounts is generally sold in wraps/twists... pieces of paper folded over and with their ends twisted... sometimes larger amounts are sold wrapped in cling film. talking of cut, cheap coke is often cut with baby laxitive, meaning it'll give you the shits if you use too much...
Alright, so a gram is considerably more than it's light wieght would suggest, as far as "usefulness" goes. Thanks, I think I have an idea on how much we're getting. Yeah, it's the little baggy that threw me off. I mean, how much fun can you have with that? I put more powdered milk in my coffee. I doubt I'll go that deep into the drugs though, I think this might be more of what you'd call a McGuffin, but thanks. Saves me a search if I do need it.
you chop coke out into lines mayy be two or threee inches long with a razor blade or credit card and inhale it through a straw/rolled up note.. get a gram of powdered milk and see how many lines you can make on a polished surface like a mirror ( i don't recommend actually snorting the milk powder ) bearing in mind that most casual users will only do two or three lines in a night - that'll give you some idea of how much you'd need... of course your serious coke head will do a lot more than that - i once watched a minor rock star i knew slightly try to do a line the full length of the side of a pool table... but thats what happens when you combine poor judgement with way too much money too young
This is true. I know here in the Netherlands you can get it in envelopes, which always seemed weird to me. Weed, which is considerably less powdery, is sold in those US style baggies, yet it's cheaper and less likely to seep through the cracks in an envelope. However, imagine being the one that has to lick all of those things shut. ;o) Anyway, my story is set in nowhere. I'm doing it in English, so I could maybe someday slap it on the internet somewhere without the hassle of translating it, and there will be paying in dollars somewhere inthe chapter I'm working on. But the locations I've got in my head are all based on locations I frequent. Apart from the place where my character is getting the drugs ofcourse, although it is going be in a street I've been-- Eh, you know what I mean. I'm just gonna let any reader imagine their own places.
Yeah, I know how it works. I did that once or twice with some kind of medicine powder back when I was young and stupid (it's not just rockstars, baby!) enough to think I could get girls that way. But this is a good idea. With the milk powder. I might just try that if I decide I need a better picture of the situation. Oh, I see this forum doesn't automatically merge posts by the same user. Sorry for double posting then.
I used to get all kinds of good info from the opiophile forums. Those burn-outs were really serious about getting high. You wouldn't believe the things they would try. Absolutely nuts. I don't see the forum anymore though . . . maybe there's a new online community? Google is being deliberately evasive with search results, because I know there's an offshoot forum somewhere. Anyway, I would find the current community and just ask the pros. They'll be happy to tell you. They love reliving their escapades and you'll get dozens of opinions.
Incidentally the novel 'cocaine' by phillip strongman gives a good illustration of how just 'doing a little' can really fuck you up without you realising how out of control its all getting as GnR said (admittedly about heroin) ' I used ta do a little but a little wouldn't do, So the little got more and more'
Might give that novel a go. Since I'm writing again I should probably check out the competition. And extra points for the Mr. Brownstone reference.
Based on the reasons your character would be using it for, a gram will be more than enough for 'perking' him up before going live. That is assuming, as said a few times before, the quality of the product is decent. If it is poor, he will just probably be blowing his nose in between questions.
