The New War on Drugs: Grass Roots Movement or Political Construction?

Abstract

The 1986 War on Drugs is analyzed from the perspective of the constructionist approach to social problems. Using the model developed by Mauss, and relying on self-report data on drug use, we argue that the objective conditions of drug use cannot explain why drugs became an issue immediately prior to the 1986 elections. Instead, explanations for the rise of drugs as a social problem are to be found primarily in the political realm. Politicians looking for a “safe” election issue took advantage of a general public concern about drug abuse by promoting drugs as a social problem. Theoretical implications for Mauss's approach are explored in a concluding section. Specifically, this model needs to be revised to allow for a more active involvement of state officials in the process of claims making.