Erratum

Abstract

M. Lawrence Schrad, Toward a comparative analysis of state alcohol-control systems: The triadic model, Contemporary Drug Problems 32, pp. 195–223, Summer 2005. Unforeseen technical difficulties are frequently a part of the academic enterprise. Unfortunately, due to an error in the printing process, the nine separate grayscale figures that provide greater understanding of the analytical content of the article Toward a comparative analysis of state alcohol-control systems were transformed into unflattering black silhouettes. The figures were intended to illustrate the triadic relationship between three potential beneficiaries of the alcohol trade: public health and social order (H), government revenue (R), and private profit (P). The level of benefits accruing to each node of the triad can nevertheless be seen by comparing the relative size of the cylinder representing each public health (H) being the cylinder crowned with a graphic representation of five individuals, the government revenue (R) cylinder topped with a miniature treasury building, and private profit being capped by buildings and factories as graphic representations of private initiative. In the published article, a taller cylinder represents a greater amount of benefits accruing to the potential beneficiary, while a shorter cylinder represents little accrued benefit. Likewise, the arrows indicative of benefit flows are also easily viewed. The only figure that requires greater clarification is the final one, Figure 9 on page 214, as all of the text boxes that contained explanations for the corresponding benefit flows to and from the various nodes were transformed into unsightly black blobs in the printing process. Therefore I have included below an earlier graphic representation of Figure 9. What it lacks in aesthetic appeal it makes up for in simplicity. Explanations are given in terms of mechanisms that can be enacted by the various players in the model, which could potentially cause benefits to flow from one node to another. It is my hope that this explanation will suffice to give a clearer picture of a model that, for better or worse, relies heavily on a visual interpretation. [Figure: see text]