Using hair analysis, urinalysis, and self-reports to estimate drug use in a sample of detained juveniles

This paper reports select findings of a research project designed to estimate drug use prevalence in a youthful offender population using hair analysis as well as urine testing and interviewing. The project was carried out in Cleveland, Ohio, and Pinellas County, Florida. The findings are consistent with earlier reports on prevalence estimations utilizing a bioassay component. Generally, respondents report drug use infrequently and test positive by assays at rates greater than self-reported use. Urinalysis indicates more drug prevalence than does interview. Hair assays, which have a greater retrospective time window, show even more prevalence than does urine testing. The project affirms results reported in 1994 by Feucht, Stephens, and Walker.