NCJ Number
218121
Journal
Journal of Ethnicity in Criminal Justice Volume: 4 Issue: 1/2 Dated: 2006 Pages: 93-111
Date Published
2006
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This study examined whether race was a factor in how drug use and the societal response to it were viewed among a sample of 611 students at a midwestern university.
Abstract
The findings indicate that race was a factor in how drug use was viewed by the students and their preferred societal response o it. White students were more likely than non-White students to view drugs as a pressing social issue. White students tended to view drug use as a character weakness that warrants punitive action in a criminal justice venue. In contrast, non-White students were more likely to view drug abuse as stemming from an emotional disorder that requires treatment as a response. Non-White students were more likely than White students to be tolerant toward marijuana use and to support its legalization. Both White and non-White students were likely to view alcoholic beverages as dangerous drugs. Race as a factor in views toward the drug issue remained statistically significant in multivariate analysis after controlling for age, academic standing, political affiliation, and religiosity. In the spring of 2002, undergraduate students in 20 academic courses at a midwestern public university were surveyed under a systematic convenience sampling design. The selected course involved a wide variety of majors and included general education classes required by all majors at the university. A total of 611 usable surveys were returned. Eighteen percent of the respondents were Black, 4 percent were Hispanic, 70 percent were White, and 8 percent were of other races. Approximately 54 percent were women. The median age was 21. The 10 questions on drug views were the dependent variables. Control variables were academic level, party affiliation, importance of religion, and attendance at religious programs. 3 tables and 38 references