If your boyfriend is on drugs, he may be running short on cash trying to pay for them. In many areas of the country, drug dealers have gotten creative with how they are paid for their services. This gives your friend different ways to buy what drugs he wants.
Cash: Dealers have always taken cash. Whether a debit card is stolen to make a withdrawal or money is borrowed, the dealer doesn't care about the source, as long as the right amount exchanges hands.
Prepaid Debit Card: If you believe giving your boyfriend a preloaded debit card instead of cash will prevent him from buying drugs, think again. Even if you buy the type that cannot be used at an ATM and can only be used to make purchases, the dealer doesn't mind. In many cases, the dealer allows a discounted value for the card. For example, your boyfriend arrives with a preloaded card valued at $100. The dealer may tell say she will accept it as a $75 card and allow it to be used to buy $75 in drugs, even though the dealer will get to spend the entire $100.
Retail Gift Card: Giving your boyfriend a gift card to a specific store may seem like a good idea if you are trying to prevent drug purchases, but if he wants drugs, he can still use the gift card to buy them. Some dealers will even specify which stores to get gift cards from. Then you may receive hints that a gift card from a particular store would be a welcome gift. You buy it and off it goes to the dealer. In addition, buying merchandise and keeping the receipt to prevent returns is not a deterrent. Most stores have a policy that instead of returning for cash, if there is no receipt, a gift card is given. And off to the drug dealer the card goes.
Merchandise: Drug dealers have been known to give a list of desired merchandise to the addict. The addict then goes out and shoplifts the merchandise and exchanges it for drugs.
Other drugs: Dealers don't always take the drugs they sell. They may prefer another drug, or be looking to expand their product line. In these cases, a drugs-for-drugs trade can be made. For example, the dealer has a supply of opiates for sale but is running low on Xanax. Your boyfriend, who happens to be an opiate addict, has a legitimate prescription for Valium or Xanax. He fills the prescription and trades it to the dealer for opiates.
Cash: Dealers have always taken cash. Whether a debit card is stolen to make a withdrawal or money is borrowed, the dealer doesn't care about the source, as long as the right amount exchanges hands.
Prepaid Debit Card: If you believe giving your boyfriend a preloaded debit card instead of cash will prevent him from buying drugs, think again. Even if you buy the type that cannot be used at an ATM and can only be used to make purchases, the dealer doesn't mind. In many cases, the dealer allows a discounted value for the card. For example, your boyfriend arrives with a preloaded card valued at $100. The dealer may tell say she will accept it as a $75 card and allow it to be used to buy $75 in drugs, even though the dealer will get to spend the entire $100.
Retail Gift Card: Giving your boyfriend a gift card to a specific store may seem like a good idea if you are trying to prevent drug purchases, but if he wants drugs, he can still use the gift card to buy them. Some dealers will even specify which stores to get gift cards from. Then you may receive hints that a gift card from a particular store would be a welcome gift. You buy it and off it goes to the dealer. In addition, buying merchandise and keeping the receipt to prevent returns is not a deterrent. Most stores have a policy that instead of returning for cash, if there is no receipt, a gift card is given. And off to the drug dealer the card goes.
Merchandise: Drug dealers have been known to give a list of desired merchandise to the addict. The addict then goes out and shoplifts the merchandise and exchanges it for drugs.
Other drugs: Dealers don't always take the drugs they sell. They may prefer another drug, or be looking to expand their product line. In these cases, a drugs-for-drugs trade can be made. For example, the dealer has a supply of opiates for sale but is running low on Xanax. Your boyfriend, who happens to be an opiate addict, has a legitimate prescription for Valium or Xanax. He fills the prescription and trades it to the dealer for opiates.
