A gang's turf may be one block, a neighborhood, or an entire area of the city. Members wear the gang's colors, or a particular style of clothing and symbols, which many times may indicate luxury or power in a particular neighborhood. Certain social behavior, such as association with gang members and knowledge of gang signs, may also be a matter of survival . Many young males have to make peace with local gangs to go to school, work or merely walk down a street in their neighborhood. Each gang has a leader, and sometimes other officers.
Drug gangs are different from other kinds of gangs.
They are much more organized, and much more dangerous. They are responsible for the distribution of illegal drugs from marijuana to cocaine and heroin to methamphetamine Gang members are required to sell drugs, carrying drugs and large amounts of cash and to protect dealers and other gang members from police or rival gangs. The drug trade is harsh and dangerous, lower rung drug dealers do not drive BMWs, wear gold jewelry, or get rich quick. They work around the clock, six or seven days a week, for low wages, often enforced by the threat of violence. Murders are committed in order to realize the gang's goals of increasing profits, controlling renegade members, protecting existing territories and markets, and terrorizing competitors.