by Irie Bliss

Created on: June 27, 2007   Last Updated: May 22, 2010

In the Atlanta University Center, you do not have to venture far to see a crackhead. They are everywhere, at the barbershop, near the grocery store, in the parks, and sometimes even outside your window. At the largest black college consortium in the world, one would think there would be more drug prevention programs for people to take advantage of.

Daryl Smith, while not offering a feasible explanation, offers a clear depiction of the high percentage of cocaine users in the Atlanta area in his controversial DVD, Crackheads Gone Wild. Almost any reality DVD with "gone wild" in its title is bound to make a profit and Crackheads Gone Wild is no exception. However, the question of why people are fascinated by this tragic reality that rampantly infects and tears down black communities, still remains unanswered.

The President of Magiccitydvd.com, Jarrod Donoman, recently announced the release of the DVD, Crackheads Gone Wild. The film provides raw footage of a day in the lives of "Crackheads" and even gives a tour of a real "Crackhouse" uncensored from its daily activities. The individuals in the film are paid to dance, sing, perform shameless acts, and even have sex while the cameras are rolling.

In spite of the DVD's popularity, selling sixty-five thousand copies and earning more than a quarter of a million dollars, there are many people who feel appalled and disturbed by its content. Many of those people are themselves AUC students.

"Really I don't see how the DVD is going to promote the idea of not doing drugs," commented Morehouse College senior, Michael Hopkins, "More than likely, the people watching the film aren't the ones who need to 'just say no'. Seeing crackheads in Atlanta, especially in the AUC, is very saddening."

"[Drug abuse] is definitely an issue in our society, it's a disease and the people behind this film are making fun of it. I seriously doubt they are going to take the profits and help the people get into rehab," said Spelman College sophomore, Tyra Weaver.

Michael Chambers, a sophomore at Morehouse said, "I don't think the public needs to see a film like that. It depicts the lowest form of humanity. The way [Smith] shows them is not necessary because there are other ways to get the message across without destroying people's dignity."

One argument has been that it's not that bad because the crack addicts are getting paid and they want to be on camera. Smith further expanded on this argument during a recent Fox News Report where he said, "Nothing

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