Drug Research: an institutional methodology

The author raises the question of whether or not valid qualitative data on various aspects of drug use can be collected from recovering addicts in institutional settings. To address this issue the author explores the advantages of interviewing institutionalized, recovering addicts, and evaluates the following field practices: 1) using active street addicts as informants, 2) recruiting recovering addicts as "tour guides" (i.e., field escorts), and 3) employing "ex-addicts" as addict locators, data collectors, and data validators. The author concludes that collecting qualitative data about addicts in institutional settings is a legitimate, ethical alternative to finding and collecting data from street addicts and offers five recommendations to guide data collection and reporting.