Gangs

Urban gangs have become one of the most pervasive problems confronting today's society. Across the United States, there is what might be called a preoccupation with gangs, especially their relationship to drugs and violence. Although it is true that there has been an escalation of violence among gang members and involvement in drugs in some form has been a feature of gang life for many years, gangs are now being exclusively blamed for the drug problems of the last decade. Part of the reason for this is that gangs have [Page 190]continued to grow in number and diversity across the nation, affecting both large cities and smaller communities. Thus, the problem has gone beyond merely the “urban jungles” to small-town America as well.