NCJ Number
118129
Date Published
1989
Length
18 pages
Annotation
In June 1988, a representative sample of adult residents in the District of Columbia was contacted by telephone and responded to questions about their views of illicit drug use.
Abstract
Questions focused on student sanctions, drug use prevention to include a tax increase, personal knowledge of individuals who use or sell drugs, alcohol abuse, likelihood of being caught or arrested, drug use as a crime, and drug legalization. Most residents felt that drug abuse education, counseling, and prevention and more resources for stopping the flow of illegal drugs into the United States would be more effective than additional resources for the arrest, prosecution, and detention of drug law violators. About 70 percent were willing to pay more taxes to fight drugs, 33 percent felt illegal drug use should be viewed as a public health problem instead of a crime problem, 40 percent favored marijuana legalization, and 80 percent opposed cocaine legalization. The survey form is appended. 17 tables.