We have previously discussed how drugs are abused, their psychological, physical and sociological impact and society’s efforts at controlling drugs. This discussion question will focus on how the drugs are made available to the user. Most illicit drugs are made available to the user through a complex chain , importation into the United States , wholesale distribution and eventually, retail sales. The sale of these drugs to the user is the ultimate objective of the entire process because this is where the profits originate. It is important to understand how drug trafficking organizations operate, especially in the critically important point where the drugs leave the trafficking organization and enter the realm of the user.
For this discussion question, please address the following:
1. There are two basic street distribution models: freelance and business. Describe both the freelance model and business model of drug distribution.
Consider the typical relationship between street level dealer and drug user. The drug user and the drug dealer engage in a mutually consensual transaction where the user receives a commodity in exchange for an accepted payment.
