NCJ Number
126906
Date Published
1990
Length
24 pages
Annotation
These results from the 1990 District of Columbia public opinion survey of drug abuse and crime were obtained through telephone interviews with 600 District of Columbia residents aged 18 or older, selected using a modified random digit dialing telephone sampling technique.
Abstract
Survey data were analyzed according to respondent race, gender, household income, and age. Approximately one-third of the respondents knew someone who regularly uses illicit drugs, and 14 percent knew someone who sells drugs. Approximately one-half of the respondents believed that drug activity has reached a crisis level in their neighborhood. Almost two-thirds of the respondents favored treating drug users medically rather than through criminal justice processing. Approximately 70 percent of the respondents were opposed to legalization of any illicit substances. Some 75 percent of the respondents felt resources for anti-drug activities should be used for drug treatment and job training centers instead of jails. Approximately two-thirds of the respondents were willing to accept at least a modest tax increase if the funds were used for anti-drug activities. Half of the respondents believed that drug abuse will decline 20-25 years from now. 18 tables and the survey questionnaire