Abstract
Research consistently shows a strong correlation between heroin/crack cocaine use, acquisitive crime and income generation, through activities such as sex work and theft. Less is known however about alternative choices of income generation such as small-scale drug supply. Drawing on data from interviews with 30 heroin and crack cocaine user-dealers in a city in South West England, this article explores the motivations, practices and roles undertaken by small-scale addicted suppliers who distribute drugs to other addicted users for the purpose of reproducing their own supply. Findings suggest that addicted user-dealers’ motivations are commonly different to those of commercially motivated suppliers, while their activities are perceived as a less harmful and a more convenient way of funding their drug dependency than other acquisitive crimes.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 534-555 |
Number of pages | 22 |
Journal | British Journal of Criminology |
Volume | 55 |
Issue number | 3 |
Early online date | 7 Jan 2015 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 7 Jan 2015 |