A number of writers on drug issues have commented upon the link between attitudes towards drugs and attitudes towards immigrants and 'the foreign'. This paper summarises some of this literature and goes on to provide recent survey evidence of this link. In a discussion section, it is suggested that the 'banal' but deep-rooted nationalistic fears which underpin international and national drug policies need to be challenged. While researchers and policy-makers can try to 'normalise' attitudes towards drug-taking, ultimately it is drug-takers themselves who must take a political stance. © 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Nationalistic fears Political stance immigrants

[No Keywords available]