Citation

McGregor K, Makkai T. Trends Iss. Crime Crim. Justice 2003; 260.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, Australian Institute of Criminology)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This paper examines the extent to which participants in the Drug Use Monitoring in Australia (DUMA) program under-report their drug use. DUMA participants are asked to answer a questionnaire about their use of drugs, as well as to supply a urine sample. This sample is tested for the presence of illicit drugs and compared with the self-reported answers in the questionnaire. The present study focuses on use of heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine. It found that, of those detainees testing positive, heroin users were more likely to report their use of that drug than users of cocaine or methamphetamine. Possible reasons are discussed for discrepancies between self reported use and urinalysis results, including the question of whether users, particularly of ecstasy, know what they are taking. The paper summarises the sociodemographic characteristics, offending behaviour and drug related activities of under reporting and accurately reporting detainees, and concludes by producing a profile of under reporters and accurate reporters. The results have implications for self report studies done in both the general population and potential high risk groups.