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Self-Report Methods of Jg If you have issues viewing or accessing this file contact us at NCJRS.gov. National .. ~ Institute on Drug Abuse MONOGRAPH SERIES Self-Report Methods of timating ~ Jg Use I "" ting Current Challenges ~ liclitlf I HUMAN SERVICES • Public Health Service • Alcohol. Drug Abuse. and Mental Health Administration Self-Report Methods of Estimating Drug Use: Meeting Current Challenges to Validity Editors: Beatrice A. Rouse, Ph.D. Nicholas J. Kozel, M.S. Louise G. Richards, Ph.D. Division of Epidemiology and Statistical Analysis National Institute on Drug Abuse NIDA Research Monograph 57 1985 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Public Health Service Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Administration National Institute on Drug Abuse 5600 Fishers Lane Rockville, Maryland 20857 For sale uy the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, D.C. 20402 NIDA Research Monographs are prepared by the research divisions of the National Institute on Drug Abuse and published by Its Office of Science. The primary objective of the series Is to provide critical reviews of research problem areas and techniques, the content of state-of-the-art conferences, and Integra­ tive research reviews. Its dual publication emphasis Is rapid and targeted dissem­ Ination to the scientific and professional community. Editorial Advisors Martin W. Adler, Ph.D. Temple University School of Medicine Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Sydney Archer, Ph.D. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, New Vork R!chard E. Belleville, Ph.D. NB Associates. Health Sciences Rockville. Maryland Gilbert J. Botvin, Ph.D. Cornell University Medical College New Vork. New Vork Joseph V. Brady, Ph.D. The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Baltimore. Maryland Theodore J. Cicero, Ph.D. Washington University School of Medicine St. louis, Missouri Sidney Cohen, M.D. ,OS Angeles, California Reese T. Jones, M.D. langley Porter Neuropsychiatric Institute San Francisco. California Denise Kandel, Ph.D. College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University New Vork, New Vork Herbert Kleber, MD. Vale University School of Medicine New Haven. Connecticut· NIDA Research Monograph Series William Pollin, M.D. DIRECTOR. NIDA Jack Durell, M.D. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR FOR SCIENCE. NIDA EDITOR-iN-CHIEF Eleanor W. Waldrop MANAGING EDITOR Parklawn Building. 5600 Rshers lane, Rockvllle, Maryland 20857 Self-Report Methods of Estimating Drug Use: Meeting Current Challenges to Validity 100257 U.S. Department of Justice National Institute of Justice This document has been reproduced exactly as received from the perslJn or organization originating it. Points of view or opinions stated in this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the National Institute of Justice. Permission to reproduce this ~~ material has been .fJranted by Public Dornain~e:?t. of HRALTH & Human Servlces/Nat'I Instltute on Drug Pbuse to the National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS). Further reproduction outside of the NCJRS system requires permis­ sion of the oopyrigAt.owner. ACKNOWLEDGMENT This monograph is based upon papers presented at a technical review on validity issues in self-reported drug use which took place on May 8 and 9, 1984, at Bethesda, t~aryland. The meeting was sponsored by the Division of Epidemiology and Statistical Analysis, National Institute on Drug Abuse. COPYRIGHT STATUS Material in this volume is in the public domain and may be used or reproduced without permission from the Institute or the authors. Citation of the source is appreciated. Opinions expressed in this volume are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or official policy of the National Institute on Drug Abuse or any other part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. DHHS publication number (ADM)85-1402 Printed 1985 NIOA Research Monographs are indexed in the Index Medicus. They are selectively included in the coverage of American Statistics Index, BioSciences Information Service, Chemical Abstracts, Current contents. Psychological Abstracts, and Psychopharmacology Abstracts. iv PREFACE In many areas of research, including those sponsored by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the self-report has become an integral component of the research methodology. While there is a growing body of literature that supports the general veridicality of the self-report, there are also studies that suggest under­ reporting in certain populations. This is true of a number of behaviors, including the self-administration of drugs such as tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, and heroin. For some behav­ iors which ~re highly stigmatized and/or relatively rare events, such as heroin use, the self-report in sample surveys may not be the most appropriate technique. Thus, methods other than self­ report have been used to estimate the prevalence of heroin addiction. Self-reporting may vary based on the social accept­ ance, or perceived acceptance, of the behavior in question. While the level of stigma associated with heroin use has been constant, there have been sharp reversals in the perception of the accepta­ bility of such behaviors as smoking tobacco, marijuana use, and cocaine use. Shifts in society's attitudes toward these behaviors raise legitimate and necessary questions regarding the continued veridicality of the self-report for these particular behaviors, and it then becomes incumbent upon the researcher to address these issues. This monograph is based, in large part, on a technical review that was held to discuss issues of validity of self­ reported data as well as various estimation techniques. This meeting was another step in a continuing effort designed to main­ tain excellence in the Institute's research in this area and to contribute to the field in general. Edgar H. Adams Acting Director Division of Epidemiology and Statistical Analysis National Institute on Drug Abuse v CONTENTS Preface •.•...••.••.....••.•.... "•...•..•..•.•...•.........•.•• f v Introducti9n and Overview, ••........•.•• ~i.~~.~~..... 1 Beatr'LCe A. Rouse, Nu::hoZas J. KouJft",'fl ~~~ ~1Sr'~ and Louise G. Richards A DlSCUSSlon· . 0 f Vall l' d . t y ................'~~ n~J~ ...~,pr.,.I" '......... 4 David N. Nurao - . Validation of Self-Report: The Res~~~\P:f~~·rJS. 12 Adele V. HarreU Influence of Privacy on Self-Reported Drug Use by Youths 22 Joseph Gfroerer Issues of Validity and Population Coverage in Student Surveys of Drug Use .••••....•.••.•......•..•.•.••.••.••.••.•• 31 Lloyd D. Johnston and Patrick M. O'MaUey Sampling and Coverage Difficulties in Canadian Drug Use Surveys and Efforts to Avoid Them •..••••.•••.....•.••..•.•.•. 55 Reginald G. Smart Dynamic Simulation Models: How Valid Are They? ••.•..••.••••• 63 Raymond c. Shreckengost Telephone Surveying for Drug Abuse: Methodological Issues and an APRl ication .•......•••..••.•.•..•...••...••.•...•.. , .• 71 Blanche Frank A Pilot Study Assessing Maternal Marijuana Use by Urine Assay During Pregnancy ..•.••.••..•...•••.••.•.••.••.••.••..•. 84 Barry S. Zuckerman, Ralph W. Hingson, Suzette MoreLock, Hortensia Amaro, Deborah Frank, James R. Sorenson, Herbert L. Kayne, and Ralph Timperi History of Heroin Prevalence Estimation Techniques •.••.....•. 94 Marc D. Brod sky vii Preceding page blank The Nominative Technique: A New Method of Estimating Heroin Preva'ence ••••••••••••••••••••••••••• ~................ ••••••• 104 Judith DPoitcour Mitter Heroin Incidence: A Trend Comparison Between National Household Survey Data and Indicator Data..................... 125 Raquet A. Crider Estimating Heroin Imports into the United States............. 141 Keith L. Gardiner and Raymond C. Shreckengost Estimating the Size of a Heroin-Abusing Population Using Multiple-Recapture Census.................................... 158 J. Arthur Woodward~ Dougtas G. Bonett~ and M.L. Brecht Participants................................................. 172 List of Monographs..... 175 viii INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW Beatrice A. Rouse, Nicholas J. Kozel Louise G. Richards Various methods of identifying drug users have been developed to improve or validate estimates based on direct questioning of individuals regarding their use of drugs. These methods include biochemical analysis of different body fluids, indirect question­ ing techniques, and statistical modeling procedures. Examples of each of these methods are included in this volume. Chapters in this volume are the product of a National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Technical Review convened to examine various methodological issues regarding the validity of self-report data. The meeting was held May 8-9, 1984, at the National Institutes of Health. While validity covers a wide range of methodological concerns, the Technical Review participants focused on three areas: 1) under­ reporting of drug use on direct questioning, 2) noncoverage of groups in the population who are at risk, and 3) procedures for estimating low prevalence drugs, such as heroin. The papers presented in this volume attest to the rich array of concepts, methods, empirical results, and evaluations engendered by the meeting. In the first chapter, Nurco identifies and describes the different types of validity, raises various validity issues in drug use and crime research, and suggests strategies for improving the validity of self-report data. Harrell reiterates the fact that validity is a multidimensional concept and discusses those research conditions and respondent characteristics found in methodological research
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