Drug dealing and negative reciprocity

Abstract

This article explores the notion of negative reciprocity. It uses the experience of drug dealers who sell poor quality heroin to consider the problem conceptually. The article examines the disclaimers and accounts dealers make while attempting to balance negative reciprocity. Disclaimers warn customers before the sale that product quality may be sub‐par and that they may wish to pass. Accounts neutralize customer complaints after purchase and consumption and centrally involve two types: appeals to defeasibility and counter denunciations. Conditions under which dealers use either disclaimers or accounts—and sub‐types within these axial categories—are specified. The discussion uses dealers’ experience to expand and modify existing conceptualization on the norm of reciprocity. Data were drawn from interviews with 32 semi‐institutionalized heroin user‐dealers located in a large western city.