VALIDITY OF SELF-REPORTED COCAINE AND OPIATE USE AMONG ARRESTEES IN 5CITIES

Although several researchers have examined the validity of self report ed drug use, few studies have focused on those factors that affect val idity. The present investigation uses Drug Use Forecasting data to ide ntify predictors of valid self-reporter among arrestees from five citi es in the United States. The multivariate results show that factors af fecting the misrepresentation of drug use vary by site and by drug cat egory. Explanations for these findings are offered and suggestions for improving the validity of arrestees' self-reports are discussed.