An Application of Social Conflict Theory to Arrestees' Use of Cocaine and Opiates

Abstract

The present study used data from the 1991 and 1992 Drug Use Forecasting projects and the 1990 census data to test the hypothesis that certain “structural disadvantage factors” identified by social conflict theory (Goode, 1997, 1999) contribute to explaining arrestees' use of cocaine and/or opiates. Using hierarchical nonlinear modeling techniques, this study explored whether social-control factors and demographic factors were effective predictors of arrestees' drug use. It also questioned whether the effects of such factors on drug use varied with the degree of structural disadvantage of the arrestees' residential districts. Overall, the study resulted in support for a link between a group of hard-drug users and contextual factors of structural disadvantage.

Race, Structural Disadvantage, and Illicit Drug Use Among Arrestees

“…Second, given our empirical focus on how context can influence drug use beyond individual characteristics, we believe that zip codes, as a unit of analysis, are adequate for examining the ways in which structural disadvantage varies across geographical space. Also, zip code is a more finite context measure than city, which has been used in prior research using ADAM data (Lo, 2003). 6.…”

Analyzing HIV/AIDS and Alcohol and Other Drug Use as a Social Problem

“…For instance, conflict theorists hold that many chronic drug users are found in lower social classes, disorganized neighborhoods, low-income families, and relatively politically powerless places (Lo, 2003). According to Goode (1997, 1999), every one of these factors indicates why economically marginal inner cities have been at the center of drug dealing and drug use.…”

“…Lo (2003) employs a social conflict theory to link macro-social-context factors to the use of illegal drugs by arrestees. Her study uses 1990 census data and 1991 and 1992 Drug Use Forecasting (DUF) projects that collect data on AOD use among arrestees in more than 20 large U.S. urban cities.…”

“…Although drug use in the middle 1980s and early 1990s was declining in the general population, the highly publicized crack cocaine phenomenon during this time contributed to the drug scare (Lo, 2003). While drug use is defined as a crime, criminals were easily found after government officials’ response to this “crime,” with strengthened policing and increased arrests (Liska & Chamlin, 1984; Belenko, Fagan, & Chin, 1991; Liska, 1992).…”

Social Location, Social Integration, and the Co-occurrence of Substance Abuse and Psychological Distress

“…In the lower locations are women, racial minorities, the poor, and the less educated, all of whom lack certain resources and power afforded other groups located higher in the social organization (5,6). Groups in lower social locations often encounter discrimination, stigmatization (7,8), and limited opportunities (9); their members frequently feel alienated (9), frustrated, disappointed (10), and stressed (5). In short, the country's social stratification system often leads to disillusionment at the lower social locations (10).…”