Abstract
ABSTRACT This paper examines structured interests and experiential conditions that influence support for coercive drug control policies. The dependent variables measure support for the prohibition of sale of alcohol to persons 18 to 20 years of age, police drug sweeps in areas known for drug dealing, and universal, mandatory testing of employees for illegal drug use. The guiding conceptual framework for this paper is derived from a conflict theoretical perspective. We examine the general proposition that support for these control strategies vary to the extent that persons are potential targets of these measures based on structural characteristics. The data were drawn from a telephone survey of 936 adult residents in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana. We find that there is a powerful influence of age on support for changing the drinking law, but that other structured interests were generally non-influential. Rather, gender, personal substance use, and education were more strongly associated with support for these control strategies. Our discussion focuses on interpreting these findings and their implications for future research.
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