Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: The following research examines why drug users are less likely to purchase their drugs from closed-air drug markets. Based on the assumption that it is safer for a drug user to purchase their drugs from indoor closed-air drug markets, we examine certain individual-level variables that make drug users less likely to purchase their drugs indoors. The closed-air drug markets that are examined in this research are marijuana, crack cocaine, powder cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine. We use data from the National Institute of Justice’s Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring (ADAM) program to conduct this analysis. In this research, we find that the location of where drug users purchase their drugs varies by race, level of education, unemployment status, current and past arrest record, homelessness, and level of drug dependency. These findings demonstrate how certain individual variables can influence the decision of where drug users go to purchase their drugs.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: For non-drug users the illegality of drugs is not as important as other factors in deterring drug use. The vast majority of non-drug users do not believe that they would engage in drug use if drugs were to become legal. Non-drug users rank the order of importance in their choosing to abstain from drug use as: 1) self-preservation/danger of drugs, 2) not wanting to disappoint one’s family, 3) the illegality of drugs, and 4) social acceptance.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: The following paper examines the salience of various structural variables as predictors of drug market participation in urban communities throughout the United States. More specifically, I examine what structural variables are associated with the creation and operation of open-air drug markets. I incorporate public access data from the U.S. Census Bureau with public access data from the National Institute of Justice’s Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring (ADAM) program to conduct this analysis. This paper offers an assessment of how useful various structural variables work in explaining the dynamics of open-air drug markets.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: This research is concerned with how discussion about mass media campaign advertisements impacts evaluations of discussants as well as the ads themselves. In an experiment focusing on marijuana and inhalant prevention with pre-adolescent/adolescent participants, scripted “focus groups” were shown discussing a series of three television ads selected from the Partnership for a Drug Free America national campaign. Based on Psychological Reactance Theory, “focus groups” were manipulated so as to contain either adult or peer members (source) using either explicit or implicit language in their commentary (language type). Results indicate that, adult sources using implicit language are perceived more positively than adults using explicit language and more positively than peers using either language type. When it comes to ad evaluations, it is clear that adults using explicit language elicit more derogation than adults using implicit language. For peers, language use makes no difference in ad evaluations. This is an important finding in that differences in ad evaluations were obtained despite the fact that ads were identical. In sum, the results highlight the key role played by source and language features in shaping responses to discussions about mass media ads as well as to the ads themselves.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Prior research concerning drug courts focuses on graduates of the program and their success rates, defining success as graduation from the program. Anglin, D., Prendergast, M., & Farabee, D. (1998, July). The effect of coerced drug treatment for drug-abusing offenders. In contrast, the current study examines the effects of a participant's length of stay in a community-based treatment program on their likelihood to recidivate. Participants (N=161) were all those participants enrolled in a local drug court treatment program from a two year period. This included those who were successful in the program (graduates) and those who exited the program through any means but graduation (drop-out or removed). All participants in the program that exited the program through any means other than graduation were analyzed. Demographic and social control variables (e.g. religion, employment, etc.) were considered and held constant in determining whether time in the program affects recidivism rates. The most significant finding was that time in the program alone, reduces the likelihood of recidivism in both cohorts when controlling for demographic and social controls. Based on our findings, we suggest that drug courts may wish to increase the duration of their programs and redefine their explanations of success from one of absolutes and graduation to a more stratified definition, identifying recidivism as the main determinant of “success”.