Reassessing the need for urinalysis as a validation technique

Urinalysis is utilized routinely as a tool to validate self-reported drug u se. Past research has been inconclusive, however, in confirming strong corr elations between urinalysis and self-reported drug use. In the current stud y, correlation estimates for cocaine and heroin use are derived from adult arrestees surveyed through the Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring (ADAM) Progra m between 1990 and 1997. While the strength of agreement between urinalysis and self-report data varies by both substance and jurisdiction, correlatio n estimates are consistent over time. These findings suggest that the need for urinalysis should be reassessed.