Do backpacking and drug use go hand in hand?

To preface this article, I don’t use drugs. Sure, I imbibe in moderate usage of things that are legal in my state, but I’m not one to really push the limits with mind-altering substances. Though I have a liberal stance on the issue, my actual usage is more on the conservative side. With that being said, I've started to see a correlation between backpackers, touristy areas and drug usage. While I don’t think it is a secret that many liberal travelers use drugs, I’m starting to question if backpacking and the drug scene go hand-in-hand.

Head to any hostel around the world and you will find it packed with young people who are escaping the reality of their homeland by coming to new horizons. While this sounds good on paper, what you see often is a place with a lot of young kids who want to get f*cked up in a new country. While drinking is seemingly ubiquitous, the more you explore, the more you realize that many travelers are often on the look out for something harder and stronger. While this can be evident in conversation, what is problematic is the entrepreneurs of the countries you are visiting picking up on this fact.

While traveling around Southeast Asia, drug availability and usage are rampant. Regardless of what border you are crossing, the ability to procure a wide range of drugs is available. Though this is the case, certain cities and towns have now become hotbeds for certain substances and the entire tourism industry is now based on that commodity. If you are looking for refer or opium, the Golden Triangle in Thailand is your place, while you can get your hallucinogen fix in Gili Trambongan in Indonesia. All backpackers know this (or find it out quickly). My question, I guess, is what does this mean for the local culture and are the availability and usage the result of travelers?

While I’m not here to tell anyone how to live their life, I am starting to question the impact of traveling. While I love to experience new places and new cultures, the negative impact of some backpackers, as well as the prevalence of illicit substances, is starting to weigh on me. Maybe I’m just a prude or over thinker, but I’m staring to take a much deeper look at the backpacker culture. 

Photo courtesy of Evaser