Earning a Score: An Exploration of the Nature and Roles of Heroin and Crack Cocaine ‘User-Dealers'



Moyle, Leah and Coomber, Ross ORCID: 0000-0002-8144-1996
(2015) Earning a Score: An Exploration of the Nature and Roles of Heroin and Crack Cocaine ‘User-Dealers'. BRITISH JOURNAL OF CRIMINOLOGY, 55 (03). pp. 534-555.

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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.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: drug dealers, drug supply, heroin markets, addiction, social supply, problem drug users
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 04 Jun 2018 14:59
Last Modified: 19 Jan 2023 01:32
DOI: 10.1093/bjc/azu087
Related URLs:
URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3022164