“There's that many people selling it”: Exploring the nature, organisation and maintenance of prison drug markets in England

Abstract

Aims: To explore the nature, organisation and maintenance of drug markets within male prisons in England from the perspective of drug users, considering the role of policy and practice in shaping the markets. Methods: Thirty in-depth qualitative interviews with former male prisoners were analysed using a Framework approach. Findings: Prison drug markets traditionally operated through “Established Enterprises,” sophisticated and business like ventures run by community drug dealers. Prisoners maintained the market by selling or delivering drugs or collecting payments and enforcing violence towards debtors. They were reimbursed for their “work” with money or drugs. Market competition was increasingly created by the concurrent existence of less formalised, more spontaneous markets through “Separate Suppliers,” where individual prisoners opportunistically sold illicit drugs, directly benefitting from the profit. Irrespective of provider, illicit drugs were commonly available within male prisons, although they were expensive, of poor quality and small deal sizes. Drugs had a pervasive and powerful influence on prison environments and were strongly linked to the threat and experience of violence. Conclusions: Two main types of drug markets operated alongside one another in male prisons in England. They operated flexibly, as prices, supply routes and payment methods quickly responded to changes in prison policy, prison drug prescribing, drug availability and prisoner demand.

• Drugs
• market
• men
• policy
• prison
• qualitative

Declaration of interest

With thanks to the ex-prisoners who took part in the study. Thanks also to Dr Mitch Waterman, Dr Anna Madill and Dr Nat Wright for their support during the study. Thanks also to the Harold Hyam Wingate Foundation and the Max Hamilton Research Fund, University of Leeds. The views expressed are those of the author.

Notes

¹ The IEP scheme is used in prison to enable prisoners to earn benefits in exchange for responsible behaviour. Similarly, benefits may be lost and a prisoner's IEP status may regress with unacceptable behaviour or rule breaking.

² “Canteen” is the system through which prisoners request and purchase items such as confectionary and toiletries out of their private money or prison wages.