Life choices of African-American youth living in public housing: perspectives on drug trafficking

Our understanding of youth involvement with drug trafficking is derived mainly from survey data. Personal narratives present the life choices that low-income, urban African-American youth perceive and the decisions that they make. Narratives provide insight into the complexities inherent in those choices. Twenty youth were interviewed through semiclinical, open-ended interviews. Youths were asked to describe their perceptions of how people their age make choices about becoming involved or refraining from involvement in drug trafficking. Data were analyzed within the context of psychological factors which influence child development, including attributions of personal meaning and identity formation. Youth narratives reflect an awareness of the contradictory messages present within their environments. Youth articulate the importance of family and peer influences on their decisions to engage in or refrain from drug trafficking. Their perceptions of themselves as belonging to a racial minority group also influence their views regarding the viable alternatives available to them for achieving success. Youth who are able to identify alternative activities from which they can derive positive experiences are less likely to become involved in drug trafficking. Recommendations for intervention at the familial, community, and institutional levels are discussed.