A PROCEDURE FOR ASSESSING THE VALIDITY OF SELF-REPORT DATA ON HIGH-RISK SEX BEHAVIORS FROM HEROIN-ADDICTS ENTERING FREE METHADONE TREATMENT

A procedure is described for determining the validity of self-reported highrisk sex behaviors obtained from heroin addicts entering a resear ch demonstration project providing free methadone maintenance. The pro cedure included. classifying subjects with inconsistencies in self-rep orted data provided at eligibility screening and later interviews as ' 'falsifiers;'' comparing admitted or suspected falsifiers with others on a range of background variables, and comparing the rate of inconsis tency between self-reported drug use and urinalysis results for falsif iers and non-falsifiers. Falsifiers were more likely to be older and m ale and to fail to report cocaine use at treatment entry; non-falsifie rs were more likely to underreport benzodiazepine use at follow-up. Fa lsifiers did not differ in their personality characteristics, and thus were probably responding to perceived situational consequences. Resea rchers offering free treatment need to use a variety of means for obta ining information to validate self-reported risk behavior.