NCJ Number
176439
Journal
Journal of Crime and Justice Volume: 21 Issue: 2 Dated: 1998 Pages: 37-56
Date Published
1998
Length
20 pages
Annotation
A 1996 survey of 1,531 college students in 9 institutions in varied geographic areas sought to expand the literature on who is involved in the sale of illicit drugs and to determine the lifestyle characteristics of these drug offenders, given that prior research typically uses small voluntary or compliant (incarcerated) samples.
Abstract
The 95-item instrument gathered information on individual demographics, experiences, and residential and social community structural and contextual variables, as well as self-reported illegal activities and drug use. Results revealed that the participants were mainly fulltime, heterosexual students and that more than half were female, white, under age 21, unmarried, employed, and living off the campus. Findings provided significant support for previous qualitative research while stilly supplying some unique findings as well. College student drug dealers were similar to adult drug dealers in that they tended to use drugs as well as sell them. They also had some similarities with youthful drug dealers in that they recognized and came to expect violence as part of their lives. Males were more likely than females to be drug dealers; college drug dealers were not secretive in their support of drugs. Findings also suggested that the lifestyles of drug dealers varied in their criminogenic intensity. However, in many other areas of life, including social activities, student life, neighborhood characteristics, and demographics, the college drug dealers were similar to any other college students. Table, notes, and 52 references (Author abstract modified)