Replication Data for "From Social Proximity to Policy Preferences: Contact with Drug Market Participants and Citizens’ Attitudes Toward Drug Policy."

The negative externalities of the global “war on drugs”—including violence, militarization, mass incarceration, and human rights violations—have sparked an intense debate over drug prohibition and legalization. Public opinion, particularly in regions most affected by drug-related violence, plays a pivotal role in shaping policy decisions, as it can either reinforce the status quo or push policymakers toward reform. In this context, it remains unclear whether citizens’ proximity to drug market participants fosters prohibitive attitudes and alleviate fears that legalizing drugs —and thus increasing consumer and non-consumer contact—could trigger significant public backlash. This study contributes to intergroup contact theory by extending its application to the understudied domain of drug policy and offering new insights into how social and environmental factors shape public opinion.