nicotene/alcohol/drug withdrawal has to do with the utter breakdown of societal mores in New Orleans once all the people got stranded?

It's probably true, but I think there's probably a large problem with race relations as well. It's not just a matter of whites leaving blacks behind but the massive distrust between the communities which stopped people working together at their time of need.

As an example, there was the decision to shoot looters. This was an extreme situation and there could be a case made for doing that. However the black community who had friends or family in the city were immediately afraid that innocent people foraging for food would be shot. There was no confidence that their needs and rights would be protected. They had no trust.

Probably a lot of low blood sugar running rampant. :p Also, I heard that the hospitals were being looted for drugs. And not the life-sustaining kind... the recreational sort.

Frankly, I kind of think getting out of LA might be the best thing to happen to some of those poor black folks.