Hair Analysis for the Detection of Drug Use in Pretrial, Probation, and Parole Populations

• NCJ Number: 133407
• Journal: Federal Probation Volume: 55 Issue: 1 Dated: (March 1991) Pages: 3-10
• Author(s): J D Baer; W A Baumgartner; V A Hill; W H Blahd
• Date Published: 1991
• Length: 8 pages
• Grant Number(s): 86-IJ-CX-0029
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Test/Measurement

Annotation

The results of radioimmunoassay hair analysis for drug use were compared with urinalysis results and self-reports of clients in pretrial release, probation, and parole in the Central District of California.

Abstract

Hair analysis was performed by a radioimmunoassay; urinalysis by enzyme immunoassay; and thin layer chromatography for opiates, marijuana, cocaine, and PCP. The comparisons were performed from both a retrospective and prospective approach. The retrospective study with clients with positive self-reports showed the hair analysis results in excellent agreement with self-reports and identified more drug users than urinalysis did. The large number of self-reported nonusers correlated with negative urinalysis and negative hair analysis results. The prospective study data suggest a cooperative use of hair and urine analysis; an initial application of hair analysis identifies a high-risk population which subsequently is monitored by random urinalysis testing for maximum and immediate deterrent effects. All these results indicate that hair analysis can provide a semi-quantitative measure of the severity of an individuals' drug use and that retrospective hair analysis can serve as a predictor of drug use during criminal justice supervision. 3 figures, 6 tables, and 40 references