NCJ Number
169373
Journal
Journal of Crime and Justice Volume: 20 Issue: 2 Dated: (1997) Pages: 33-50
Date Published
1997
Length
18 pages
Annotation
Conflict theory was used as the perspective for a study that examined structured interests and experiential conditions that influence public support for coercive drug control policies.
Abstract
The study's dependent variables were support for the prohibition of the sale of alcohol to persons ages 18-20, police drug sweeps in areas known for drug dealing, and universal and mandatory employee drug testing. The research examined the proposition that support for these drug policies varies to the extent that persons are potential targets of these measures, based on structural characteristics. Data came from a telephone survey of 936 adult residents of East Baton Rouge Parish, La. Results revealed that age has a strong influence on support for changing the drinking law, whereas other structured interests generally had no influence. Instead, gender, personal drug use, and education were more strongly associated with support for these control strategies. Females were more likely than males to support coercive policies, alcohol use was negatively related to support for both increasing the legal drinking age and police drug sweeps, and those with education beyond high school were less supportive of drug sweeps and universal drug testing than were those with a high school diploma or less. Recommendations for further research, table, notes, and 32 references (Author abstract modified)