NCJ Number
183242
Journal
Justice Quarterly Volume: 17 Issue: 2 Dated: June 2000 Pages: 393-410
Date Published
June 2000
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This paper examines the impact of gang membership and drug sales on the use of illicit drugs.
Abstract
Much is known about gang members’ involvement as sellers of drugs, but little is known about the extent to which gang members are drug users and the role of drug sales in the use of drugs. The paper presents data from an 11-city survey of arrestees that included a substantial number of gang members. It examines the relationship between demographic characteristics such as age and race, gang membership, drug sales and drug use. In addition, it explores the gang members’ views regarding drug use by their associates. Finally, it examines, in the group context of adolescent gang membership, the contrast between the drug-using behavior and norms designed to control such behavior. Although a higher percentage of sellers than of nonsellers tested positive for any illicit drug, there was no pattern for the impact of drug sales on cocaine or marijuana use. Age was a more important determinant of drug use and drug type than either gang status or selling drugs. A major component of gang behavior reflected the focal beliefs and practices of adolescents, the age group that most often participates in gangs. Notes, tables, references