Racial Biases in Being Approached to Sell Prescription Drugs

• In Event: Players and Rules in Illicit Drug Markets

Abstract

Previous literature has shown that, despite a long history of being stereotyped as the source of the U.S.’s drug problems, Blacks and Hispanics are more likely to have negative definitions of drug use and have lower rates of use across substances. In this paper, we examine the probability of having been ever approached to sell prescription medication. Most research has focused on street drug markets rather than prescription drug markets, making this a topic requiring more attention in the context of racial disparities in the policing drug selling. Our results show that there is no difference between the frequency of prescription drug misuse between Blacks and Hispanics and other races, as well as no difference between their odds of having ever sold prescription or illegal drugs in their lifetime. Despite this, Blacks and Hispanics are significantly more likely to be approached to sell prescription drugs, even after accounting for previous history of drug dealing (both prescription and illicit drugs). Findings point towards the existence of a racial bias in perceptions of prescription drug dealing among drug buyers.

Authors

• Alexandra C. Marin, Purdue University

• Brian C. Kelly, Purdue University

• Michael Vuolo, Purdue University