Race and gender in illicit drug transactions

Among the most crucial social ills of modern society is the impact of the illicit drug market. Characteristics of illicit drug markets at local levels have not been well documented. In particular, the impact of how race and gender may influence illicit drug transactions has been minimally explored. To understand how gender and race affect illicit drug pricing, a secondary analysis of illicit drug transactions of crack cocaine from 2002-2009 in North Central, Ohio was conducted (N=724). This archival design study utilized a quantitative research methodology and ANOVA statistical analysis to analyze secondary drug pricing data to include race and gender. There were five interrelated research questions studied, including the impact of race, a cross racial status between buyer and seller, gender, a cross gender status between buyer and seller, and female sellers. The data were reviewed with respect to social dominance theory and social exchange theory. The quantitative results indicate that there is no significance in race (p = .933), gender (p = .993), and cross gender relationships (p = .190). However, significance was observed with respect to racially matched and non-matched transactions (p < .001), suggesting that matched races had a larger mean (M = 186.38, SD = 133.69) cost per gram ratio of cocaine base compared to non-matched races (M = 146.81, SD = 97.86). Additionally, significance was observed with respect to the main effect for Gender of Seller (p < .05), suggesting that male sellers had a larger mean (M = 166.04, SD = 121.76) cost per gram ratio of cocaine base compared to female sellers (M = 141.37, SD = 58.86).