NCJ Number
222022
Journal
The Howard Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 47 Issue: 1 Dated: February 2008 Pages: 67-80
Date Published
February 2008
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This study examined cocaine sales and related drug issues from 20 Australian cocaine dealers.
Abstract
In Australia, cocaine is considerably more expensive than other illicit recreational drugs such as ecstasy and methamphetamine, yet the demand for cocaine remains strong. Most cocaine users reported low levels of cocaine-related harms, a finding duplicated in recent European research (Prinzleve, Haasen, and Zurhold 2004). This was also reflected in interviews with cocaine dealers who stated that most money was made by cocaine importers and by those selling small diluted quantities to injecting drug users (IDU), with lower returns made by suppliers to recreational drug users. The private nature of cocaine supply and use presents few opportunities for Australian domestic law enforcement to disrupt domestic distribution networks of landed cocaine, as evidenced by the small number of domestic seizures and arrests (Australian Crime Commission 2005). Given the findings, law enforcement at the border and beyond are likely to be the most effective supply reduction strategy. Data about purchasing and selling cocaine were from a cross-sectional study of 298 cocaine users conducted in 2 large Australian cities of Melbourne (n=171) and Sydney (n=127) between October 2004 and January 2005. Twenty cocaine dealers were asked about their life experiences of cocaine and other drug dealings, motivations for dealing, the circumstances of recent cocaine transactions, price, quanity and purity of recent transactions, and perception and management of risk, as well as their own drug use and drug-related problems. Tables, figure, notes, and references