AN EMPIRICAL-EXAMINATION OF THE SOCIAL BOND THEORY OF DRUG-USE

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between control theory, measured through a created social bond scale, and the respondents'' self-admitted drug use (alcohol, marihuana, tobacco, amphetamines and bartiburates). An analysis was conducted of self-reported drug use data from a general Texas [USA] adult population. This analysis included a series of bivariate cross-comparison correlations between the independent variable (social bond) and the dependent drug variables. The relationship between the independent and dependent variables was further examined by calculating the correlation and level of significance within selected categories of several demographic (age, race, sex, education, income and martial status) variables. The results showed a significant positive correlation between reduced social bonding and greater drug use. However, while these relationships were significant, they were relatively weak and of little explanatory value. Hirschi''s social bond theory evidently fails to provide an adequate explanation for the use of drugs within the framework of this analysis.