Americans narrowly favor international cooperation to deal with illicit drugs

Sep 7–13, 2023 · n = 2,000 · MoE ±2.3%Source report ↗

Core finding

No single approach to illicit drugs draws majority support, and Americans divide over the best one: close to three-in-ten (29%) back international cooperation, according to a September 2023 Verasight survey.

Economic sanctions (27%) and legalizing drugs (25%) trail only narrowly, keeping the top three options tightly bunched. Smaller shares favor military action (15%) or some other approach (17%), and about one-in-six (18%) reject every option offered.

Selected responses

Americans narrowly favor international cooperation to deal with illicit drugs.

How can we best deal with illicit drugs?

International Cooperation
29.2%
Economic sanctions
27.3%
Legalize them
25.3%
None of the above
17.6%
Other
16.9%
Military
14.7%

n = 2,000 · Sep 7–13, 2023 · MoE ±2.3%

Respondents could select more than one option, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
ModeVerasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting
PopulationUnited States adults
Field datesSep 7–13, 2023
Base (unweighted)2,000
Margin of error±2.3%
Module2023 APSA Omnibus Survey #2023-071
SponsorVerasight
Weight variableweight
Weighting targetsage, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status

Sources

  1. 01

    How can we best deal with illicit drugs?

    verasight-apsa-2023.tiiny.co

Cite this question

2023 APSA Omnibus Survey #2023-071, fielded September 7-13, 2023, N=2,000 United States adults, +/- 2.3%.