NCJ Number
124470
Journal
Contemporary Drug Problems Volume: 17 Issue: 1 Dated: (Spring 1990) Pages: 9-30
Date Published
1990
Length
22 pages
Annotation
This article extends the descriptive literature on crack by examining specific patterns of crack distribution, use, and cost in Detroit.
Abstract
Data were derived from the Detroit Drug Use Forecast, which provided a convenient sample of arrestees who volunteered to be interviewed and to provide a urine specimen for drug analysis. Respondents answered questions on the amount of crack use, the amount of money spent on crack, methods used to buy crack, selling of crack for profit or use, crack production methods, and street terms for crack. Of 454 respondents, 219 admitted crack use at least once in their lives, and 190 were chronic users. Users reported consuming an average of 32 "rocks" per week, spending roughly $350 to secure this supply. The median amount of consumption was 5 rocks per week, at a median expenditure of $150 weekly. Men consumed slightly more than women and generally spent more money. Crack appeared to be distributed largely by multiple units of small entrepreneurs rather than by a mega-organization that controlled the crack trade. Most crack transactions occurred indoors, and the preferred method of buying and selling crack was the "crack house." Users/dealers dominated the crack street scene, calling into question the paradigm of a purely economic entrepreneur. 34 references, 3 tables.