NCJ Number
177024
Journal
Journal of Drug Issues Volume: 29 Issue: 1 Dated: Winter 1999 Pages: 91-106
Date Published
1999
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This study examines correlates of underreporting recent drug use by female arrestees.
Abstract
Much of the research literature on the validity of self-reported drug use, drawn primarily from studies of males in criminal justice and drug treatment populations, has focused on whether subjects positive for drug use by an objective measure such as urinalysis actually report recent drug use. Few studies have investigated correlates of underreporting in these populations. This study used a sample of 437 female arrestees to examine correlates of underreporting previously identified in the research literature. Female arrestees without prior treatment experience or charged with a nondrug offense were less likely to report recent cocaine use than their counterparts who had previously been in treatment or were charged with a drug offense. These correlates did not apply to recent heroin use. Some support was found for race as a correlate of underreporting. Tables, notes, references