THE BELIEFS PREDICTING SUPPORT FOR HEROIN LEGALIZATION

Two studies were conducted for the purpose of identifying those belief s and perceptions about heroin which predict being for or against hero in legalization. In Study One the results of a 45-item instrument asse ssing the attitudes and beliefs of 359 students at Georgia State Unive rsity were factor analyzed. The identified factors were entered into a multiple regression predicting support for heroin legalization, In St udy Two, an item from each of the sh strongest factors identified in S tudy One was included in a questionnaire along with a two-item measure employed in Study One to identify support for legalization, A ninth i tem was added and the questions were asked in a polling of 805 represe ntative Georgia citizens. The primary findings from Study One were rep licated in Study Two. The factors are described and the implications o f the findings for policy are discussed.