Methamphetamine Producing Groups - Deviance - Lecture Slides, Slides of Sociology of Deviance

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 Since the 1970s, there’s been an increase in domestic clandestine production of meth & rise in meth use through the 1990s

 Little known about social relations within groups that produce meth

Part 6: Ch. 34

 In-depth surveys with 31 women incarcerated in county jails in Missouri & Arkansas; two didn’t want to participate (n = 29)

 Ages 18 to 48 years; average age 36

 Mostly white population

 Drug-related charges included possession, intent to deliver & maintaining a drug premises

 All women reported using meth at least one time

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 The ones who would supply the anhydrous ammonia, which is difficult to obtain

 Riskier than being the cook, they run risk of being arrested, injury & death

 At highest risk for physical injuries due to dangers of anhydrous ammonia

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 They obtain the goods necessary to produce the drug – the more risk she or he takes, the more they are valued

 At least one shopper per group, up to four in any group

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 Simple users whose position lacks prestige

 Their presence creates issue of risk & trust

 Members of group know users or else they wouldn’t be allowed to interact with them

 Some might be undercover police or informants, so usually a burden to group

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 User : usually occupies other positions in group

 Simple user : just used drug & not considered part of group

 The greater the involvement in the production process, the higher the status

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 In the hierarchy of the group, what roles are thought to be the most prestigious?

 What differentiates users from “simple” users?

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 Gangs are social groups organized around delinquency and participation in gangs has been shown to escalate youth’s involvement in crime and violence

 Research on gang violence indicates that the primary targets of this violence are other gang members

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 Thus gang participation can be seen as a delinquent lifestyle that involves high risks of victimization

 Research on female gang involvement has expanded in recent years to include examination of such issues as violence and victimization, but the relationship between gang participation and violent victimization remains undeveloped area here as well

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 Data from survey and semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 20 female members of mixed gender gangs in Columbus, Ohio

 Ages 12-17 years

 75% were African American or multiracial (16 of 20); the rest (4) were white

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 Sample drawn from several local agencies in Columbus working with at-risk youth

 Structured as a gang/nongang comparison; a total of 46 girls interviewed (N = 46)

 Gang membership determined by self-definition

 A limitation of study is that only young women were interviewed; inferences about gender dynamics and young men’s behavior is based on young women’s perceptions only

Part 6: Ch. 35