Retail Drug Trade, Effects on Neighbourhoods, and Sellers’ Navigational Strategies: Accounts of Nigerian Dealers

• Published date: 01 January 2024
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/00220426231152803
• Author: Ediomo-Ubong E. Nelson,Olayinka M. Onayemi
• Date: 01 January 2024
• Subject Matter: Articles

Article

Journal of Drug Issues

2024, Vol. 54(1) 105–119

© The Author(s) 2023

Article reuse guidelines:

sagepub.com/journals-permissions

DOI: 10.1177/00220426231152803

journals.sagepub.com/home/jod

Retail Drug Trade, Effects on

Neighbourhoods, and Sellers’

Navigational Strategies:

Accounts of Nigerian Dealers

Ediomo-Ubong E. Nelson

1,2

and Olayinka M. Onayemi

3

Abstract

Studies have examined the negative effects of drug markets on neighbourhoods. But few explore

the views of drug sellers. Drawing on 31 in-depth interviews with Nigerian retail drug sellers, we

explore why they sell drugs, the effects of drug markets on neighbourhoods, and how they

navigate social and legal problems. The participants sold drugs as a means of livelihood in the

context of poverty and economic decline. Drug market activities were seen as nuisance, and as

fostering crime and violence in neighbourhoods. These views stirred opposition from residents

and led to police raids on drug scenes. Drug sellers navigated policing and opposition by concealing

drug trade, selling covertly and reducing nuisance among other strategies. We argue that retail

drug trade is shaped by the imperatives of survival in the context of poverty. Providing alternative

means of livelihood for drug sellers offers potential to curb drug selling and related problems.

Keywords

crime, drug trade, drug policy, policing, violence

Introduction

This study explores the reasons for selling drugs, the negative effects of drug selling and con-

sumption on neighbourhoods, and how drug sellers navigate social and legal problems in drug

markets. Public drug use often evokes negative reactions from community members due to the

perception of people who use drugs (PWUD) as criminally dangerous, morally deviant, and

diseased individuals (Smith, 2010;Strike et al., 2014). Also, poor dependent drug users may

engage in economic crimes such as shoplifting and burglary to support their drug use (Briggs,

2013;DeBeck et al., 2007;Degendhart et al., 2005). Drug-related crimes further contribute to

1

Global Drug Policy Observatory, Swansea University, UK

2

Centre for Research and Information on Substance Abuse, Uyo, Nigeria

3

Sociology Programme, Bowen University, Iwo, Nigeria

Corresponding Author:

Ediomo-Ubong E. Nelson, Centre for Research and Information on Substance Abuse, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.

Email: degreatnelson@yahoo.com