“It’s such a terrible drug”: Narratives of fentanyl dealers amid the opioid overdose crisis

Abstract

The fentanyl-fueled overdose crisis is historically lethal, yet the voices of those who sell fentanyl remain understudied. While research has focused extensively on people who use drugs (PWUD), the perspectives of people who sell fentanyl (PWSF) are largely absent from academic and policy discussions. This study draws on 87 in-depth interviews with incarcerated individuals in Western Canada who have experience using and selling fentanyl. Using a narrative criminological approach, we allowed participants’ stories to guide the interviews, exploring how they interpret their actions, identities, and harm. Thematic coding revealed how PWSF navigate tensions between control, responsibility, and victimhood as they attempt to morally frame or neutralize their role in distributing a deadly substance. Our findings show that fentanyl’s extreme lethality complicates traditional neutralization techniques, amplifying feelings of moral and legal accountability. Compared to other people who sell drugs (PWSD), PWSF demonstrate three distinct characteristics: stronger harm reduction practices, heightened moral awareness, and greater acceptance of legal consequences.

This research sheds light on the complex realities of fentanyl distribution, emphasizing the need for harm reduction and criminal justice responses that consider the ethical and structural dimensions shaping the actions of low-level sellers.