NARCOTICS ADDICTS' HUSTLING STRATEGIES
- 1 January 1990
- journal article
- research article
- Published by SAGE Publications in Journal of Contemporary Ethnography
- Vol. 18 (4) , 388-415
- https://doi.org/10.1177/089124190018004002
Abstract
Narcotics addicts often employ deception in “hustles” that appear spontaneous. Rather, they intentionally manipulate the potential ambiguity inherent in all social interactions, taking advantage of differential meanings that may be attributed to social settings, economic behaviors, or valuable assets. The purpose of the hustling process is to convey an illusion of an indisputable “reality” wherein the objects of the hustle remain naive while rewards or “payoffs” are reaped in the form of money, goods, or services that facilitate continuation of a hustler's addiction. This article presents several examples of hustles and examines the strategies and tactics used in their accomplishment. Analysis indicates that strategies are rule-governed and generally permeate addicts' behaviors.Keywords
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