NCJ Number
138056
Journal
International Journal of the Addictions Volume: 27 Issue: 1 Dated: (1992) Pages: 51-69
Date Published
1992
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This study conducted an independent large sample evaluation of the validity of radioimmunoassay hair (RIAH) on a sample of 134 patients in two methadone maintenance treatment programs in New York City. The subjects also participated in 90-minute interviews, including a self- report on their cocaine and heroin use, and submitted to urinalysis.
Abstract
Positive or negative RIAH was confirmed by urinalysis and/or the self-reports in 87 percent of the cases for cocaine and 84 percent of the cases for heroin. The findings indicated that excess RIAH positives were a result of the narrow window of detection for urinalysis, failure to admit drug use in the self-report, and/or inadvertent ingestion of small amounts of drugs. The strong correlation between hair analysis, urinalysis, and self-reporting results supports the convergent validity of all three drug use indicators, as they were measured in this study. The authors note that drug testing should be undertaken during a drug treatment program only if there is a clearly defined purpose, i.e., clinical decisionmaking, feedback to patients on their progress, or program evaluation. 11 tables, 3 notes, and 25 references