WOW, my heart goes out to you and I know moving is probably not an option for you since $ is scare for most of us today. Do you have a dead bolt on your door? Can you install locks on your windows? What about a dog, my little one always lets me know if some one is outside my door or on the stairs. I'm sure others will have more suggestions for you. Do you know a good lawyer? You landlady sounds like my landlord, just pay your rent and dont bother me!! Good Luck.
Christine

My sister's next door neighbors were arrested in a drug bust--the police woke her up one night as they bashed through the front door of the neighboring apartment.

Her landlord wanted to evict them immediately, but had to wait until they went to court and were charged with a felony. Prior to that, there was no legal reason for eviction.

So check the laws about evictions in your state. It's possible the noise is enough for an eviction.

One thing about evictions--the landlord usually can't tell other tenants what is going on. And depending on your state laws, evictions can take months, 3-5 months seems fairly usual.

Then check the laws about breaking your lease. Your landlord might be more inspired to do something about these neighbors if she knew her one good tenant was planning to leave.

I lived in a terrible building for my first apartment because it was cheap. We had a ton of drug activity. What kept me safe was minding my own buisness. I made sure that I covered up my tv and electronics when moving in and out, so that nobody knew I owned nice things. Most of all, mind your own buisness. Don't tell anybody which apartment you live in or who lives with you. if anything, say that you have several people living there. Don't put on your fancy earings or expensive shoes etc until you get to your car, so nobody thinks you have money. And install whatever locks on the door. Don't forget to make complaints to the HOA and the landlord, if your complaints are filed legally then you can have control over your lease, which is a contract that says the landlord is responsible for providing a safe and clean enviroment. If they can't hold up their end, then you have the right to break the lease and leave. You could try and make annonymous police calls, but if they figure out its you, then you're painting a target on your back, and you want to remain under the radar. Save up, get a second job if you have to, do anything you can to get out of the building. Our building finally had several drug raids with dogs and guns and a new landlord who we suspect was an undercover cop himself took over, and he treated us all like criminals. Ask your landlord to put up security cameras as soon as possible, and to actively call the police. It is the landlords responsibility to keep their tennants in a safe enviroment under penalty of law. The housing authority can help.

Great advice Ella, I wonder where Kf3399 went since she hasnt been back to comment.

Better late than never! Two weeks after I posted this the pictures of the guys that lived under me were in the paper. The landlord evicted them. Still in the same place--got a new neighbor next door with a boomy-bass system though...and the saga continues