RELIABILITY OF DRUG DEPENDENTS SELF-REPORTS

Among 936 demands for treatment by drug users in Greece in 7 months in 1994, 78 subjects making at least two demands were identified by code numbers. The median time between demands was 50 days (range 2-219). T he data obtained by interview at the first two demands were compared t o estimate the reliability of the interview schedule of the First Trea tment Demand protocol of the Pompidou Group of the Council of Europe. Subjects were 84.6% male, with a median age of 27 years (range 14-43) and median duration of use 11 years (range 2-27). The primary substanc e of use was mainly heroin (88.5%). The percentage of agreement betwee n interviews was highest for lifetime history of injecting (100%), urb an residence (98.7%) and mode of use of heroin (94.3%). Percentages of agreement were close to 90% for most other items of socio-demographic data and drug use history, whether or not the correct response to the item could logically change between interviews. It is concluded that reliability of the data is around 90% and short-term behaviour in this population is rather stable. Only employment status (52.9% agreement) and secondary substance of abuse (25.5%) appeared to be exceptions. I t is noteworthy that HIV and hepatitis serostatuses were reported less reliably than most other items. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd .