Activity 10

The phrase “drug dealer” comes with a strong negative connotation, both to myself and the majority of society. The stereotypical “drug dealer” would look something like a large, imposing male individual, mid-30s, with muscles, tattoos, scars, and, of course, guns. He would also have plenty of henchman that work for him, like his own Secret Service. His background would probably be that of an underprivileged, lower class family, which is what would have gotten him into the business to begin with, because the monetary benefits would have been too great to pass up.

This image, however, is nothing like the subjects of Dorm Room Dealers. The dealers in the book are college students, ranging from eighteen to twenty-four years of age. Three of the 50  subjects were even women. Another surprising factor was that 44 of the 50 subjects interviewed were Caucasian. The authors went as far as to say that they “simply did not encounter many who were nonwhite.” The authors also made a statement about how all but one of the dealers (49 out of 50) came from either “middle-upper class or affluent/upper class”, which further disproves my stereotypical drug dealer. I understand that there are college drug dealers that are normal kids, but you always have the feeling that they’re the exception to the rule, and that belief that those that are students and whatnot are more likely to do it because of a necessity for the financial benefit. However, based on the information the authors provided, these are easily the most prevalent types of dealers, while the prototypical Hollywood drug dealer is a rarity. 

Mohammad and Fritsvold used the same research method in Dorm Room Dealers as the author of Cocaine Kids, ethnographic investigations. This involved them developing relationships over a period of months to “secure key dealer interviews and otherwise gain the access necessary to physically observe drug transactions and the day-to-day activities of the dealers.” The goal of such a method was to “evaluate people in terms of what they actually do.” This would ultimately provide the most accurate material for their study, allowing the dealers to deal and the consumers to consume. When dealing with a subject shrouded in mystery such as the drug trade, ethnography is probably the most effective manner in which to obtain critical details about everyone involved in the system.