Heroin gave me the wings to fly but took away the sun: Consumers' view of drug policy and heroin legalization.
Item
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Title
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Heroin gave me the wings to fly but took away the sun: Consumers' view of drug policy and heroin legalization.
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Identifier
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AAI3024781
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identifier
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3024781
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Creator
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Demirjian, Arlene.
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Contributor
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Adviser: Michael Smith
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Date
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2001
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Social Work | Sociology, Public and Social Welfare | American Studies
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Abstract
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This study asks consumers of drugs about their views of heroin legalization and drug policy in the United States. Over the last century drug policy in the U.S. has gone from legal use to policies of zero drug tolerance. The costs of this policy have resulted in a clamor for reform. Alternatives have been suggested that require a slight alteration in current policy to the more radical, legalization of drugs. The stakeholder who has the most experience in the bio-psycho-social effects of our current policy have been excluded from the debate.;One hundred and seventeen men and women in drug free treatment and methadone maintenance treatment in New York City responded to a six page survey instrument. As a whole, clients were against the legalization of heroin. After examining over a dozen variables that might influence their choice, three proved to be significant: treatment modality, race/ethnicity and whether or not the client had a child/children. Methadone maintenance clients were more likely than drug free clients to favor legalization. Clients with children were more likely to oppose legalization. Whites were more likely to favor legalization than Latinos or African-Americans. African-Americans were most adamant in their opposition to heroin legalization.;Clients supported demand interventions that favored treatment, prevention, and job training. They rejected punitive measures to stop the drug problem. When comparing these results to polls given to the general public, the general public also favored treatment and prevention. However, the general public, also favored more punitive interventions.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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D.S.W.
