NCJ Number
211780
Journal
Journal of Drug Education Volume: 35 Issue: 1 Dated: 2005 Pages: 59-77
Date Published
2005
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This exploratory study compared 34 male and 26 female meth dealers who were processed by the same criminal justice system in Utah in 2001.
Abstract
An introduction provides an overview of methamphetamine's properties and its use by gender, followed by a literature review. The current study drew its sample of meth dealers from a larger study of 204 persons arrested for meth-related law violations in northern Utah in 2001. Data were collected with a 104-question survey instrument that focused on respondents' entrance into the world of methamphetamine, reasons for starting meth dealing, the length of time dealing meth, the number of customers, the manner of getting paid for selling meth, the income from dealing meth in the 30 days prior to arrest, major concerns when dealing meth, prior arrests, and other miscellaneous issues. Some common factors for both genders were entrance into the world of meth through friends; prior criminal histories; similar reasons for starting selling meth, such as for money and to support their meth use; similar numbers of customers; making comparatively large sums of money selling meth; similar worries in selling meth, such as being arrested; and both gender groups contained four respondents who had been dealing meth for over 10 years. There were also differences in dealers by gender; male dealers were more business-like in their trafficking activities, made more money, and were more prepared for violence in dealing activities than female dealers. Female dealers were more educated, had been arrested less often, and were more willing to try drug treatment. The findings suggest that criminal justice processing and the threat of arrest do not deter meth dealing for either gender, suggesting that drug treatment should be included in the response to dealers of both genders. 9 tables and 19 references