Drug users’ Satisfaction with Drug Control by the Police in China

Illicit use of drugs has received tremendous public attention in China in recent years, but little is known about the effectiveness of drug control practices, especially those adopted by the police. This study examines the effectiveness of drug control as perceived by drug users. The study uses surveys from 100 drug users who have voluntarily participated in nongovernmental treatment in Kunming. Results show that, inconsistent with prior research on campaign style policing, the majority of respondents were satisfied with the police in drug control. In addition, drug users’ evaluations of the police were significantly correlated with their age, marital status, perceptions of collective efficacy, and evaluations of their prior contacts with the police. Limitations of the research and future directions are also discussed. © 2014, Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.