CITIZENS AND OUTLAWS - THE PRIVATE LIVES AND PUBLIC LIFE-STYLES OF WOMEN IN THE ILLICIT DRUG ECONOMY

This paper utilizes findings from a qualitative study of methamphetami ne among users in three U.S. communities: San Francisco, San Diego, an d Honolulu. In-depth interviews were combined with survey questionnair es to explore the patterns, contexts, and consequences among an ethnic ally and culturally diverse sample of 150 moderate to heavy users in e ach site. A grounded theory method was used to identify and examine pa tterns of experiences, beliefs, and environments, One of the most impo rtant,findings emerging from this study concerns the unexpectedly high proportion of women with substantial experience as methamphetamine de alers and/or distributors. More than two-thirds of the 141 female resp ondent users were involved in diverse lifestyles and participated in t he illicit methamphetamine market on a wide variety of levels. However , the majority considered this activity as a positive experience which provided them with economic independence, self-esteem, increased abil ity to function, professional pride, and ethics. Dealing was seen as s upportive in their important need to maintain control: with social and intimate relationships, with daily, living responsibilities, and with their drug use, The major problems reported by women dealers across a ll sites included: arrests and incarceration; violence; lack of trust in, and betrayal by, customers, and social and emotional dependency on the drug to feel normal and function without fear on a social level.