Hair Assays for Drugs of Abuse in a Probation Population: Implementation of a Pilot Study in a Correctional Field Setting; Final Report

• NCJ Number: 152420
• Author(s): T Mieczkowski; R A Newel; G Allison; S Coletti
• Date Published: 1994
• Length: 223 pages
• Grant Number(s): 92-IJ-CX-K010
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)

Annotation

This pilot study collected, chemically analyzed, and compared hair and urine specimens of a sample of probationers for 6 consecutive months and then assessed the field viability of using hair assays in conjunction with urinalysis in an established probation system. Data set archived by the NIJ Data Resources Program at the National Archive of Criminal Justice Data, located at URL http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/nacjd.

Abstract

The project involved the recruitment and retention of approximately 151 probationers in Pinellas County, Florida, who were subject to hair assays for illicit drug exposure from 1 to 6 months. Researchers collected and analyzed six consecutive specimens on 90 probationers over a 6-month period, 101 consecutive samples for 5 months, and fewer numbers for other probationers. Based on study findings, the researchers conclude that there are no formidable obstacles to block or inhibit the adoption of hair-assay technology into ongoing probationary field activities. Officers were readily able to collect samples, to package and transport them effectively, and to gain the cooperation of the probationers. Officers surveyed reported that hair-sample gathering was less burdensome than urine specimen collection. A higher rate of drug-positive cases was detected by hair analysis compared to urinalysis, regardless of the drug assayed. The authors state that the ideal implementation of this technology will involve the combined use of hair and urine testing. 47 tables, 86 references, and appended study forms, codebooks, and data