Activity 5

In The Cocaine Kids, Terry Williams provides insight to the lives of the eight featured juvenile cocaine dealers through a form of research known as ethnography. This research process involves the close and personal observation of the individuals in their own social setting, along with systematic recording of their actions and speech (Williams, 1989). Ethnography, as described by Williams, is often a slow process as it employs building a close relationship with those being studied (1989). While it is often times potentially dangerous, having a close, personal encounter with what or whom one is researching can be beneficial. Ethnography provided Terry Williams with a better understanding of the cocaine drug culture and the behavior and lifestyle of a group of kids involved in it.

I found many aspects of the drug culture pretty interesting, particularly how the preference for methods of use changed. For example, in the beginning, customers and the Kids alike preferred snorting cocaine. As the book and time progresses, a new method is introduced in the form of base or crack. I found it interesting that the Kids still refrained from this use, even though they were constantly surrounded by it. “Those who snort are thought to have more discipline and control than those who smoke crack or freebase” (1989). Along with this, the entire method of selling was always changing, adapting to what the costumers wanted and what was in demand. For example, cocaine was distributed in foil, then waterproof packets when that was not accepted, and so on. Although this is an obvious aspect of business in general, it was interesting to see it working in the drug context.  

 

Two of the questions that Terry Williams was seeking when writing The Cocaine Kids were how do kids get into the cocaine business, and how do they get out. These were by far the most interesting aspects of the book to me personally. Kids are attracted to the idea of making good money easily, and if you are born into a line of cocaine dealers such as the way Max was, then there’s a high chance that you will end up doing it as well. Granted, this is by no means a requirement, but in the case of The Cocaine Kids, all of the cards just seemed to line up. Additionally, Williams addressed how one gets out of the business. While they all had plans to get out one day, the shooting of Chillie definitely hurried up the process and seemed to provide an out, in my opinion. Williams described the cocaine business as a stepping stone for the kids and I agree (1989). However, often times people, adolescents especially, are not so lucky as to get out safely or out at all.  Therefore I found this aspect of the drug culture very interesting. There were definitely other aspects that I think should at least be noted, specifically the way the hierarchy system worked and the establishment of reputations through the streets and the after-hours club.

 

The author’s observations are relevant to class material as we talk about cocaine and other stimulants. There are a few instances when class material crossed my mind, such as the talk of cocaine leading to heroin use—this brought the “gateway drug” idea to my mind. Also, Williams was specific in stating the type of language and slang that was used, and it’s interesting to see that change and progress over time. He also observed side effects of cocaine which we address as well, along with the idea of addiction as it was seen throughout the book, if not in the kids then in the costumers and occupants of the base and crack houses. 

References

Williams, T. M. (1989). The cocaine kids: The inside story of a teenage drug ring. Reading, MA: Addison Wesley Pub. Co.