1 - National Criminal Justice Reference Service

I
l
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
---------~--------
11
more flexible than might be generally believed. Drug users do not use a
fixed amount of drugs each day, but are willing to cut their coat according
to their cloth (Grapendaal, 1989). If they have a large amount of money,
they will use a lot of drugs. On the other hand, if they are less successful
in acquiring an income they will use accordingly less heroin or
cocaine. In other. words, it appears that it is not physical dependence that
determines the amount of money to be acquired, but rather that the available
sum of money determines the amount of drugs that can be ·used. As one
addicted prostitute put it: "How much drugs do I need? •••• that depends on
~ha
money I make".
This statement is confirmed by the observed variability in drug use
by the ~ajority of sample. Only 10 respondents reported a stable pattern of
drug use (both heroin and cocaine) during one month. Almost half ;;,f the
sample showed the impressive deviation (upwards as well as downwards) of
their mean use of over 75%.
227