Reliability of Self-Reported Drug Use and Urinalysis in the Drug Use Forecasting System

Abstract

The Drug Use Forecasting (DUF) program was initiated by the National Institute of Justice to estimate the extent of psychoactive drug use primarily among arrestees charged with nondrug felonies. Because of its importance as one of the major data sources for drug use in criminal justice populations, it is important to assess the reliability of the self-report as contrasted with urinalysis data provided. This report is based on a study of 3,297 male and 913 female arrestees in the city of Cleveland. Overall reliability among 8 of the 10 drug categories tested for was high mainly due to the low rates of use of these drugs in the population. However, among the two most frequently used drug categories (cocaine and marijuana), there was significant discrepancy between self-report and urine results with over half of those who tested positive for either drug denying any use within the past 72 hours. The implications of these results are discussed.

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References

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