AN EVALUATION OF PATTERNS OF RACIAL BIAS IN HAIR ASSAYS FOR COCAINE -BLACK-AND-WHITE ARRESTEES COMPARED

This article evaluates the hypothesis that hair assays for cocaine wil l evidence a racial bias. It compares the outcome of hair and urinalys is assays for cocaine metabolites in a group of white and a group of b lack arrestees in Pinellas County, Florida on whom detailed self-repor ted drug use is known. The findings indicate that although blacks test at higher positive rates than whites for both hair and urine assays, these differentials most likely reflect differential rates of use of c ocaine which is apparent from the self-reported data.