Hair Assays for Drugs of Abuse in a Probation Population: Pilot Study in a Florida Correctional Field Setting, 1993 (ICPSR 6527)

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Date of Collection View help for Date of Collection

Data Collection Notes View help for Data Collection Notes

Study Purpose View help for Study Purpose

This project involved the recruitment and retention of approximately 150 probationers in Pinellas and Pasco counties, Florida, who were subject to hair assays and urine testing for illicit drug use over a period of time ranging from one to six months. The major objectives of this research project were: (1) to evaluate the effectiveness of the combination of hair and urine assays in determining drug use among probationers, (2) to examine the concordance patterns of hair and urine specimens, (3) to explore the perceptions and attitudes of probation officers regarding the use of hair assays for drug testing, and (4) to assess the feasibility of implementing hair analysis in a probationary field setting. The major distinction of this project is its focus on the evaluation of the difficulties and experiences associated with implementing a hair testing regimen in a correctional agency. The project did not institute a complete hair testing program. The project, however, sought to simulate major features of such an implementation. In that regard, the research project put emphasis on "normal work" integration and "real world" applicability. In this sense, the project sought to insert a simple hair specimen collection protocol in the normal working relationship between selected probation officers and their probationer caseload.

Study Design View help for Study Design

The 22 correctional officers who participated in this study were recruited from the Florida Department of Corrections Probation Field Services Divisions, and worked within Pinellas and Pasco counties. Each officer was requested to approach and solicit from his or her caseload eight to ten probationers who would be eligible for the project because they would be undergoing at least monthly urine testing. The participation of all parties was voluntary, and the data were not used for any decisions regarding case disposition or treatment. Each probationer was required to sign an informed consent form. Probation officers were trained to collect hair specimens and to incorporate the hair collection procedure into their normal routine with their probationers. The project intended to recruit between 150-200 volunteer probationers with the supposition that approximately 100 would persist in participation for the entire six months of the project. Specimens were collected and analyzed on 90 probationers over a six-month period and on 101 probationers for five consecutive months, as well as fewer numbers of samples for the other probationers. The drugs for which the hair and urine specimens were analyzed included cocaine, opiates, cannabinoids, PCP, and methadone. The urine samples were analyzed by EMIT using National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)-recommended cutoff values. The hair samples were taken simultaneously with the urine specimens and were analyzed by the Psychemedics Corporation of Culver City, California. The cutoff values were the lowest recommended by the testing laboratory as detectable (2 ng/10 mg for cocaine and opiates, .05 ng/10 mg for cannabinoids). Since the values for the hair assays are reported in actual concentrations, manipulation of the cutoff values is readily done.

Sample View help for Sample

The 22 correctional officers who participated in this study were recruited from the Florida Department of Corrections Probation Field Services Divisions, and worked within Pinellas and Pasco counties. Each officer was requested to approach and solicit from his or her caseload eight to ten probationers who would be eligible for the project because they would be undergoing at least monthly urine testing.

Universe View help for Universe

Volunteer Florida Department of Corrections probationers of Pinellas and Pasco counties between April 1993 and September 1993.

Unit(s) of Observation View help for Unit(s) of Observation

Data Source View help for Data Source

Data Type(s) View help for Data Type(s)

Description of Variables View help for Description of Variables

Survey questions asked of the probation officers (Part 1) covered personal information (gender, ethnicity, education level, years of experience in corrections, and satisfaction with job) and attitudes and opinions about their jobs and drug testing (estimated percentage of caseload using drugs, whether all clients should be tested, and whether knowing drug quantities is helpful). Data in Part 2 cover probationers' drug test results and self-reported drug use, personal information (gender, age, weight, ethnicity, and criminal charge), a variety of hair questions (color, texture, style, length, how often shampooed, and if dyed, tinted, bleached, relaxed, or jeried), and use of medications, along with the medication name and amount.

Response Rates View help for Response Rates

The project initially was able to recruit approximately 150 volunteer probationers. There were 91 probationers who persisted for the entire six-month collection period of the project, although complete specimens were collected for 90 cases. Because the program was voluntary, and because attrition would occur in the sample group due to a variety of reasons, an approximate loss of 50 percent was anticipated. Cases were lost over the course of the project at a low but persistent rate, and the losses were not typically related to the research project itself, but to other situations of the individual probationers. Thus the 59.2 percent survival rate of volunteer probationers was within the initial objective of retaining 50 percent for the complete life of the project.

Presence of Common Scales View help for Presence of Common Scales

None.

Original Release Date View help for Original Release Date

1997-06-10

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