STUDENT DRUG USE - A RE-EXAMINATION OF THE 'HANG-LOOSE ETHIC' HYPOTHESIS

• NCJ Number: 15359
• Author(s): C W THOMAS; D M PETERSEN; M T ZINGRAFF
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 20 pages
• Grant Number(s): 73-NI-03-0002
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

INDICATES A CORRELATION BETWEEN COLLEGIATE SUBCULTURAL VALUES THAT OPPOSE THE ESTABLISHMENT LEGAL SYSTEM AND A POSITIVE ATTITUDE TOWARD DRUG USE.

Abstract

DATA USED IN THE ANALYSIS WERE OBTAINED FROM A SAMPLE OF FULL-TIME STUDENTS IN A LARGE UNIVERSITY THROUGH THE USE OF QUESTIONNAIRES MEASURING ATTITUDES TOWARD DRUG USE, ATTITUDES TOWARD THE LEGAL SYSTEM, ALIENATION, SOCIAL CLASS OF ORIGIN, AND ACTUAL DRUG USE. SOCIAL BACKGROUND FACTORS PROVED TO BE A WEAK PREDICTOR OF DRUG USE. TO THE EXTENT THAT A STUDENT RESPONDED TO THE SUBCULTURAL TENETS THAT INCLUDED OPPOSITION TO THE LEGAL SYSTEM THE PROBABILITY OF DRUG USE INCREASED THE ALIENATION ON VARIABLES DID NOT CORRELATE WITH DRUG USE.