Using Hair Specimens to Test for Illicit Drug Use

• NCJ Number: 138848
• Author(s): T. Kesczkowski; H. J. Landress; R. Newel; S. D. Coletti
• Date Published: 1991
• Length: 225 pages
• Grant Number(s): 90-IJ-CX-0023
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of Justice (NIJ)
• Sale Source: NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A sample of 300 arrestees in Pinellas County (Florida) was used to compare the results of radioimmunoassay of hair (RIAH) and urinalysis to self-reported use of illicit drugs.

Abstract

According to the findings in general, self-reported use of cocaine or opiates is weakly linked with either assay. Urinalysis of the sample of arrestees shows a higher level of drug use than accounted for by the self-reports, and RIAH results show an even higher rate of drug exposure. Rates of detection versus self-report are most dramatic for light to moderate users, as heavy drug users are more likely to be identified by any assay. While in most cases both assays have concordant outcomes, the most likely result in those cases that do not is a negative urinalysis and a positive RIAH. Thus, using RIAH methods to predict the outcome of urinalysis is significantly more accurate than random chance.