Although we traditionally think of addictions as related to chemical ingestion, over the past 15 years, much research has come out about “soft addictions” or those additions that are more behavioral in nature such as exercise addiction, food addiction, gambling addiction and internet addiction. Many drug dealers, like drug users, are addicts. The following article explores the world of the drug dealer and demonstrates, by comparison with another behavioral addiction, that many dealers truly are addicts.

One of the most basic principles of behavior modification is that a person will not continue to engage in a behavior that has no reinforcing consequences. This leads the inquisitive clinician to ask, what is rewarding about drug sale and why.

1. Money. No, most street-level drug dealers really do not make that much money and very few go on to be mid- or upper-level distributors. Often they barely make enough to get by. The positive side is that they feel power and control in that they are not having to pay taxes, can work when they want and are essentially “sticking it to the man.” Many dealers harbor a deep-rooted rage towards mainstream society. The act of selling drugs is a reactive behavior that allows the dealer to feel more of a sense of control and justice.

2. Power, control and status. Okay, this is a possibility. You cannot just go down to the local store and buy drugs. You need connections. Connections ensure you are buying “clean” drugs and provide some element of protection against arrest. Therefore, dealers are the go-to-guys, are in demand, and need to be kept happy by their constituents lest they start peddling low-quality drugs or turn in their customers. This special status provides a sense of self-esteem to persons who have no real sense of self or self-worth.

3. Belonging. Mid-level dealers need loyal street-level dealers. This is often accomplished through a nurturing-threatening relationship. That is, the Mid-level dealer conveys a sense of nurturance and protection for those who are loyal, but makes it clear that dissention will not be tolerated. Clinical experience with dealers has lead me to understand that often this sense of belonging, conditional though it may be, is something that never existed in the dealers family of origin. They often lack a strong sense of personal identity and a sense of futility at trying to succeed in an unwelcoming world.

4. Safety. Some street-level dealers have some sense of safety if their supplier provides it.

5. Basic needs. Very often, the go-to-man (the street-level dealer) is adorned by multiple female companions. He rarely has difficulty finding a place to stay or food to eat. Unfortunately from a recovery perspective, their affection for him is based on his power and ability to supply them drugs and keep them safe, all of which will disappear if he quits selling.

6. Love. A popular song from the 80’s lamented “What’s love got to do with it. It’s just a second hand emotion…” Many dealers have never experienced unconditional love and equate sex, infatuation and mutually beneficial arrangements as “love.” People do not wake up one day and say “I want to be a crack addict.” Nor do they wake up and say “I want to be a drug dealer.” You cannot go to the local community college and get a certificate for drug sales. People are introduced to it through their relationships and those people who are most meaningful and impactful in their lives.

These patients often present as highly guarded, resentful, condescending and apathetic, because they grew up in an environment that espoused “Don’t talk, don’t trust, don’t feel.” Nobody was there to listen to their problems, it seemed like all of the “good guys” were just their to make their lives miserable and, as children, it hurt too much to feel the emptiness, anxiety and anger of not having emotionally and physically available caregivers. They turned to caregiver substitutes. Those people who provided them attention and belonging, and who acculturated them into the lifestyle of sale.

It is obvious that sale of drugs can meet certain basic needs, but that it itself does not make it an addiction. To examine the strength of the claim that sale is an addiction, it will be compared to the most recent criteria for a diagnosis of Pathological Gambling as defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV-TR) published by the American Psychiatric Association. Beneath each criteria, the statement is repeated, but the term “gambling” has been replaced with the term “selling.” It quickly becomes evident that dealers quite easily meet these criteria.

A. Persistent and recurrent maladaptive behavior as indicated by five (or more) of the following:

(1) is preoccupied with gambling (e.g., preoccupied with reliving past gambling experiences, handicapping or planning the next venture, or thinking of ways to get money with which to gamble)

(1) is preoccupied with selling drugs(e.g., preoccupied with reliving past sales experiences, planning the next venture, or thinking of ways to get more drugs to sell) Dealers like to romance their successes and avenge their losses. For many dealers, the act of selling, getting away with it and staying the go-to-guy consumes their time, thoughts and planning/

(2) needs to gamble with increasing amounts of money in order to achieve the desired excitement

(2) needs to sell increasing amounts of drugs or engage in increasingly risky ventures in order to achieve the desired excitement. This is true for some, but not all dealers. Most of the increases in sales amounts or risk are power plays to stay in the lead power position in their area.

(3) has repeated unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back, or stop gambling

(3) has repeated unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back, or stop selling. Any clinician who has worked with dealers knows that even the patients who honestly try to go out and get legitimate work often fall back into sales. Sale fills too many of their basic needs and, specifically drug-sales, is what they know themselves to be good at and have built their self esteem and personal identity upon.

(4) is restless or irritable when attempting to cut down or stop gambling

(4) is restless or irritable when attempting to cut down or stop selling. Take anyone out of their niche. Tell them they cannot do what they know and what provides them a sense of belonging, security and esteem and see if they don’t get a bit edgy. They not only do not have any self-confidence in their ability to do anything else, but by forcing them out of sales, someone else is getting their power and control. The one thing they could control in their life is falling apart before their eyes.

(5) gambles as a way of escaping from problems or of relieving a dysphoric mood (e.g., feelings of helplessness, guilt, anxiety, depression)

(5) Sells as a way of escaping from problems or of relieving a dysphoric mood (e.g., feelings of helplessness, guilt, anxiety, depression) When many dealers have a bad day, they go out to their stomping ground. This is where their associates are and where they feel important. For a brief moment, they escape whatever problems lie back at home, work or school.

(6) after losing money gambling, often returns another day to get even (“chasing” one’s losses)

(6) after losing money selling or getting “burned”, often returns another day to get even (“chasing” one’s losses) Loyalty, power and control are the name of the game. Customers who do not pay are essentially trying to take power from the dealer. Letting too many get away with that for too long, the dealer loses face (and money.) Therefore, many dealers return to collect on their debts or revenge wrongs done to them to make the statement of their power and control.

(7) lies to family members, therapist, or others to conceal the extent of involvement with gambling

(7) lies to family members, therapist, or others to conceal the extent of involvement with selling Many dealers do not lie to family and friends about their involvement as it is who they are, but they often lie to law enforcement, employers and counselors. They are not ashamed of their activity, but are again, asserting control to avoid repercussions. How good it must feel to someone who feels powerless in many areas of their life to not only be good at what they do, but to also be able to beat the system—the same system they blame for many of their problems.

(8) has committed illegal acts such as forgery, fraud, theft, or embezzlement to finance gambling

(8) has committed illegal acts such as forgery, fraud, theft, or embezzlement to finance selling This one is a gimme. I have never met a drug-dealer who has not at one time or another engaged in some illegal activity to finance their operation—pimping, prostitution, theft…

(9) has jeopardized or lost a significant relationship, job, or educational or career opportunity because of gambling

(9) has jeopardized or lost a significant relationship, job, or educational or career opportunity because of selling. Many jobs will not hire people with felony convictions. Further, many dealers, though not the majority, jeopardize their job or their college career by selling. Relationships also suffer, because the significant other who does not support the activity will quickly be replaced by three who do.

(10) relies on others to provide money to relieve a desperate financial situation caused by gambling

(10) relies on others to provide money to relieve a desperate financial situation caused by selling Much like number 8 above, many sellers have had customers steal from them or fail to pay them leaving them owing their supplier—the supplier who protects the loyal and severely punishes the irresponsible.

B. The behavior is not better accounted for by a Manic Episode.

It seems easier to excuse, forgive or caretake for the addict who is powerless over his chemical addiction. When a behavior clearly has biochemical components, physiological reinforcers and withdrawal symptoms people are more likely to embrace the disease model. When an addiction has no obvious biochemical components, many counselors, even addictions counselors, find it harder to define the addiction, identify the reinforcers and assist the patient in developing alternate ways to meet their needs. Ultimately it is clear that, although the symptom presentation is different, the underlying issues seen in drug addicts such as low self-esteem, repressed anger and anxiety, poor parental relationships and a sense of personal helplessness can often also be seen in the clinical presentation of a non-using drug dealer.

For many drug dealers, treatment is vital. Without developing a stable sense of self outside of drug sales, improving self-esteem to reduce reliance on external validation, identifying and achieving in a new career and addressing the presenting issues of anger and resentment at mainstream society, the dealer will remain a dealer. Treatment providers must remember that they symbolize the very culture that has tortured these patients. Many patients have tried the “right way” and it has failed. Long-winded groups on pharmacology and deficit based instruction are only going to irritate this patient. In sum, it is vital to do the following to help your patients succeed:

1. Assist them in identifying their values and how their behavior supports or does not support those values

2. Assist them in identifying the reasons why going back to selling is not the ideal solution

3. They say hindsight is 20/20. Peer support groups led by former drug dealers who have made it out are exceptionally helpful in the sustained recovery of this population.

4. Validate their feelings of rage and powerlessness and assist them in channeling it into socially appropriate forums

5. Since drug sale is often not something the patient views as a problem, the onus lies on the therapist to assist the client who strives to achieve in drug sales what the motivations are behind this desire.