The Prevalence of Drug Abuse in the Army: A Comparison of Urinalysis and Survey Rates.

摘要

This research project, conducted in the Spring of 1973, had two objectives: (a) to estimate the difference between rates of drug usage determined by the random urine testing currently in use by the Army and rates of usage found by use of an anonymous, self-report survey instrument; and (b) to examine the procedures being used in the field to implement random urine testing, in order to determine the variations in procedures and to observe the advantages and problems associated with each variation. As hypothesized from previous survey research, the self-report rate of drug use was much higher than that found from urine testing. There is reason to believe that the difference may at least in part be due to problems in implementing the program. Regardless of what procedures were used, there were means by which a potentially identifiable user could escape detection. The role of the individual unit commander was found to be crucial in determining the effectiveness of the system. (Author)