Activity 10

Dorm Room Dealers

Who do I picture when I hear the term "drug dealer"? Well, the first thing that pops into my head is a poor, ratty looking junkie, selling drugs off the street and sketchily behind alley ways, in order to get their own fix or make some extra cash. I think of them as dangerous, possessing not only the need for the drug or the greed for money, but one who has grown accustomed to the hardships of the street life and willing to go to any lengths to protect what's theirs, including but not limited to violence. Basically, my views and internal stereotypes of drug dealers were the opposite of the subjects of "Dorm Room Dealers".

"Dorm Room Dealers" completely disproves my views of the typical drug dealer. Mohammed and Fritsvold follow not your stereotypical drug dealers. Their research process followed middle and upper class collegiate students, many of which were business majors, providing an insider's perspective into the college drug-dealing network that no one would have thought even existed. Unlike the stereotypical impression of a drug dealer, these students would not end up in jail, prison, etc. after finishing their run with drug dealing, but mainly with efficient and respectable "white collar" jobs upon completion of college. Their research process took place for about 6 years, interviewing college drug dealers mostly in Southern California, whose networks were in driving range with the US-Mexico border. The authors explored these affluent students drug networks, their base of supply, and their motives behind the greed that drove this drug dealing desire. 

A perfect example of how this text disproved my stereotype of a drug dealer was when the authors described the encounter between Brice and Dallas on the very first page. Dallas, under the influence of some sort of substance, stormed into Brice's house and demanded money from his drug-dealing partner. Now, before reading on I automatically assumed a drug-dealing dispute where money and drugs were involved would turn to violence possibly involving a robbery, guns, etc. But, instead this book disproved my stereotype right away as Dallas threatens to call Brice's father as a threat rather than violence. What drug dealer threatens to call someone's parents? This was not only amusing but completely shocking as well, on the very first page of "Dorm Room Dealers", my stereotypes of drug dealers was squashed.