Broken Light Bulbs On The Ground In The Hood – What Addicts Use Light Bulbs For

There are many weird and unusual things on the ground in cities across the globe. In the ghetto or hood, (lower-income inner-city communities) there is often a whole new set of weird things on the ground. Random broken glass shards and light bulbs are everywhere in the city, so what are these from, and why are they there? 

Why Are There Broken Light Bulbs On The Ground In The Hood?

When a drug user can’t find or can’t afford a regular meth pipe or crack pipe, they will resort to whatever is accessible. Light bulbs are typically available and easy to convert into a pipe. Methamphetamine pipes are very similar to light bulbs, many are created in the same shape as a light bulb. In the process of turning a normal light bulb into a pipe, oftentimes users accidentally break the bulbs. Even in cases when the user successfully turns the bulb into a pipe without breaking it, they often leave the used bulb laying on the ground. These discarded bulbs get stepped on, driven on, or cracked leaving the broken shards that many people see on streets, sidewalks, and alleyways.

During my addiction, I have used light bulbs as a pipe when I couldn’t wait for or find a regular pipe. This is something many addicts try to avoid because it’s not as efficient as a regular pipe. but regular pipes cost money and people in active addiction will spend money on drugs over everything else. 

Light Bulbs As Drug Paraphernalia

To make the light bulb useable to smoke out, the user needs to take the silver end cap off and remove the internal components. They then attempt to put the cap back on. This allows them to avoid sharp glass at the end when they’re using the pipe. During the process of doing this many people end up breaking the light bulb. An addict in the grips of addiction is not concerned with cleaning up the broken glass. Getting that next hit is the only thing going through the person’s mind. 

When a light bulb is used to smoke meth it’s almost always discarded after a few uses. There are a few reasons for this:

1. Users prefer regular pipes over light bulbs and only use bulbs when they’re in a pinch
2. Light bulbs get brittle, weak, and dirtier quicker than regular pipes 
3. Users don’t like to carry around brittle bulbs in their pocket or bags
4. Users discard the bulbs after one use to avoid having paraphernalia on them 

Other Glass Items Addicts Use 

There are many daily household items addicts use for getting high. Full list of common drug paraphernalia. A bunch of these items are made out of glass and can often be mistaken for broken light bulbs. 

1.  Small Mirrors and Glass Plates

    

   Mirrors and plates have been used for decades to break up and cut up drugs on top. These items are used because they’re easily found in most households. Also, there is a certain cultural appeal of cutting up drugs on a mirror. Many movies and TV programs show drugs being used on top of a mirror. Drug users want to get a certain feel and environment when doing drugs. Doing drugs the same way Scarface did makes users feel more into the experience.

2. Love Roses, Glass Pipes, Glass Tube With Fake Rose In It

   

   Glass pipes are commonly used for smoking marijuana. These pipes are typical and most people know what they look like. Crack users can’t use these marijuana pipes for smoking crack, it clogs up the pipe, so they use a different glass pipe.  Many gas stations and corner stores sell little glass tubes with a fake rose in them. They are about 3-4 inches long and about 1/2 inch in diameter. When the rose is taken out these are commonly used as crack pipes.

   

3. The reason the little fake rose is in them is for legal purposes. A gas station can’t sell a crack pipe, but they can sell a little rose that looks cool. The store owners and the cops know what these are used for, but they can’t do anything unless the law is changed.

4. Large Pill Capsules and Glass Viles

   If the drugs don’t come in a little baggie then they come in small glass vials or pill capsules. The dealers can easily swallow the capsules if needed or toss the glass vials if they’re in a bind. Different cities have different black market drug trades. In Rochester, the drugs are sold in baggies or wax baggies. In Baltimore, the drugs are sold in pill capsules and glass vials.

5. Needles and Syringes

   Needles and syringes are used for injecting drugs. States have different laws regarding how someone can get syringes. Here in NY, they are sold at every pharmacy. Many states have a needle exchange program where addicts can bring in used needles and trade them in for new clean ones. If you find any needles or syringes DO NOT PICK THEM UP WITHOUT PROTECTION. Make sure you put gloves on and grab the end with the plunger, not the end with the spike. If possible don’t pick the needle up with your hands, use a tool to avoid any contact with the needle.

   

If you come across any type of broken glass on the ground please do not attempt to pick it up without proper protection. Many people in active addiction have diseases like HIV or Hep C. These drug paraphernalia items can have blood or other fluids on them. Also, the glass will be sharp and could have other contraband underneath or inside it.