“The distribution of illicit drugs” (TDID) – general results. Quantitative findings from a study on socially inconspicuous drug users and dealers in Germany

Abstract

This chapter presents a mainly quantitative overview of the German mixed-methods research project "The Distribution of Illicit Drugs". The main objective was to explore the profit and non-profit driven distribution of illicit drugs in socially inconspicuous settings and thus in a field that makes up a much bigger proportion of the phenomenon than the much-discussed public, socially conspicuous drug scenes. In total, 214 drug users of whom the majority had also distributed drugs, were interviewed.The results indicate that dealing activities within networks of recreational drug users are, to a large extent, not profit-driven and often carried out as a favour to friends. However, even among those who had made at least some money by selling drugs, gaining profit was usually not the priority. Only a small minority of retail sales was carried out with the intention to make as much money as possible. It has to be noted, though, that a substantial part of drug distribution activities is completely free of charge -in the form of shared drugs and gift giving. This high significance of (often mutual) sharing, social supply, and minimally commercial supply appears to be driven by the particular conditions of the illegal market.

Sharing, Group-Buying, Social Supply, Offline and Online Dealers: how Users in a Sample from Six European Countries Procure New Psychoactive Substances (NPS)

“…This might point to a more social character of the use and particularly the distribution of illicit drugs at user level when compared to NPS. This hypothesis is in line with our finding that "only" around one third of the participants reported purchasing NPS from a friend, while this mode of procurement usually applies to around two thirds or even more in samples of occasional or regular recreational users of illicit drugs (Coomber and Turnbull 2007;Werse 2008;Mravčík et al 2009;Werse and Bernard 2016). Although we did not investigate the "original" source of the NPS, the significant numbers of users who participated in a "group-buy" and/or let a friend buy it might indicate that online vendors play a significant role in this complex: concerns of anonymity or the fact that larger amounts of NPS are usually much cheaper per unit than small amounts might lead to considerable numbers of users who "source out" online buying.…”

“…Nearly one third of respondents reported getting NPS for free in the prior 12 months, either as a gift or (more frequently) by sharing. Studies among users of illicit drugs (Hamilton 2005;Caulkins and Pacula 2006;Coomber and Turnbull 2007;Werse and Bernard 2016) reported somewhat higher proportions for these kinds of "free use." This might point to a more social character of the use and particularly the distribution of illicit drugs at user level when compared to NPS.…”