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Adolescents and Drug Abuse: Clinical Use of Urine Drug Screening

NCJ Number
170446
Journal
Child & Adolescent Substance Abuse Volume: 7 Issue: 2 Dated: (1997) Pages: 19-36
Author(s)
W H James; D D Moore
Date Published
1997
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This study examines the use of urine screening to assess and monitor adolescents in an outpatient program who are suspected of continued drug abuse.
Abstract
Urine screening for clinical diagnostic purposes is used to determine whether adolescents are continuing drug abuse. To systematically evaluate the procedure, this study analyzed 296 adolescent urine screens. Thirty-six percent of the adolescents tested positive for one or more drugs of abuse, and 30 percent tested positive for cannabinoids (THC), with eight testing positive for other drug use. Among the total sample, 5 (2 percent) tested positive for opiates, 10 (3 percent) tested positive for multiple drug use, and 27 (9 percent) had adulterated urine. Urine screening, which was done for clinical purposes, appeared to be helpful in assessing continued drug use but provided little information regarding the diagnostic level and pattern of drug use. Adolescents who use drugs maintain symptomatic behavioral, attitudinal and motivational indicators of a particular kind of lifestyle. The strategic and pragmatic use of urine screening as outlined in this study may be helpful in bringing about positive behavioral changes leading to attitudinal and motivational changes in drug-using adolescents. Tables, references