The city's elite was forced to acknowledge the poor as equals, and the government recognized the need to treat the comuneros (community leaders) with respect and give them responsibilities and opportunities.

The city's traditional industries declined, leading to economic dislocation among the poor. Many rural migrants settled on precarious slopes, leading to a high level of illegal housing settlements. The distribution of income in Medellín became increasingly unequal, with the wealthy elite holding a disproportionate amount of power and wealth.

Pablo Escobar, became cultural icons, and their extravagant lifestyles fascinated many.

new era of violence, conspicuous consumption, and social change emerged.

Beauty queens who might have expected to make a brilliant match with a businessman or politician instead became molls and mistresses of drug lords.

Beggars disappeared from the streets, and petty thievery declined as unemployed youth found work in the drug syndicate.