1995 Drug Use Forecasting . Annual Report on Adult and Juvenile Arrestees June 1996 U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs National Institute of Justice Jeremy Travis Director Thomas E. Feucht Project Director The National Institute of Justice is a component of the Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, and the Office for Victims of Crime. From the Director of NIJ The past year was a momentous one for the Drug Use Forecasting (DUF) program. Data from 1995 confirmed a downward trend, first reported last year, in cocaine use among adult male and female arrestees and among juvenile arrestees/detainees. Marijuana use, however, continues to escalate among young male arrestees and we have witnessed the rise of methamphetamine in several western DUF cities. Responding to the impact of these drugs on offenders entering the criminal justice system will be a difficult task, and over the coming months NIJ will vigilantly monitor their use. The results of DUF research in 1995 also led NIJ to launch several special initiatives that will help researchers, policy makers, and law enforcement professionals better study and control crime and drug use. NIJ began collecting information from arrestees about their procurement and use of firearms, particularly those obtained illegally. Preliminary results from this study were published last year, and a final report is forthcoming. NIJ, in collaboration with the President's Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), began a special study of drug markets and drug procurement patterns in six DUF cities. Early data indicate that this project will greatly aid our understanding of how drugs such as crack and heroin move into and through our communities. A full report of these findings will be published in 1996. As part of our intramural research program, NIJ undertook a series of special analyses of DUF data. Results from the first study, which focuses on methamphetamine use, are included in this annual report. Other reports on juvenile arrestees, housing and homelessness among adult and juvenile arrestees, their use of drugs at time of offense, and offenders' history of prior arrest will be available later this year. I urge you to read these important studies. Copies can be obtained by contacting NIJ's National Criminal Justice Reference Service (1-800-851-3420) or by visiting the NCJRS home page at http://www.ncjrs.org. Jeremy Travis, NIJ Director ------------------------------ Table of Contents From the Director of NIJ 1995 DUF Annual Report on Drug Use Among Arrestees Methodology Special Report on Methamphetamine Use Among Arrestees Adult Program Findings Atlanta Birmingham Chicago Cleveland Dallas Denver Detroit Ft. Lauderdale Houston Indianapolis Los Angeles Manhattan Miami New Orleans Omaha Philadelphia Phoenix Portland St. Louis San Antonio San Diego San Jose Washington, D.C. Juvenile Program Findings Birmingham Cleveland Denver Indianapolis Los Angeles Phoenix Portland St. Louis San Antonio San Diego San Jose Washington, D.C. Guide to DUF Site Data Tables ------------------------------ 1995 DUF Annual Report on Drug Use Among Arrestees In 1995, the DUF program surveyed 20,737 adult male booked arrestees at 23 sites in major metropolitan areas across the United States. Data from 8,065 adult female booked arrestees were collected at 21 of these sites. In addition, 12 sites collected data from 4,293 juvenile male arrestees/detainees. This report presents rates of drug use among adult male and female arrestees and among juvenile arrestees/detainees using urinalysis to detect recent use of drugs. The analysis of adult arrestees focuses on trends in the use of marijuana, cocaine, and opiates, and special attention is given to trends for the youngest adults (age 20 or younger). Results for juvenile arrestees/detainees are described beginning on page 40. In addition, results from a special study of methamphetamine use at eight key DUF sites is discussed beginning on page 12. Also featured are site-by-site graphical presentations of data collected in 1995 for adult arrestees and for juvenile arrestees/detainees. A description of the DUF program methodology is provided on page 11, and a guide to the DUF site data tables can be found on page 53. Drug Use Among Adult Male Arrestees o In general, cocaine use among adult male arrestees continued to decline. o Marijuana use among adult male arrestees continued to escalate. Cocaine remains the predominant drug among adult male arrestees, although their increased use of marijuana has closed the gap in rates of use between the two drugs. Seven sites reported rates of marijuana use that were higher than those for cocaine use. In 1994, only five sites reported higher rates of marijuana use. These shifting rates confirm patterns of drug use first identified in 1994 and are generally consistent with other national drug use indicators that have noted an increase in marijuana use and a small decrease in cocaine use. Use of marijuana: o Seventeen of the 23 sites reported an increase in the percentage of adult male arrestees testing positive for marijuana. Atlanta, Birmingham, and Houston each registered increases of more than 5 percent. Overall rates of marijuana use among male arrestees were higher for the third year in a row. Since 1992, the median rate across sites has increased from 26 to 33 percent. Rates in 1995 ranged from 23 to 42 percent; in 1994, they ranged from 20 to 44 percent. The largest increases were reported among the youngest adult arrestees, a trend which is discussed in a separate section below. Use of cocaine: o Although cocaine continues to be the most prevalent drug in the DUF monitoring system, its use has declined among adult male arrestees. Seventeen of the 23 sites reported lower rates of cocaine use among male arrestees. Most striking was the magnitude of this decline: Miami, down 14 percentage points; Indianapolis, down 8 points; Omaha and San Antonio, down 7 points; and Chicago and Cleveland, down 6 points. The range of values across sites remained largely unchanged (18 to 68 percent), while the median rate dropped one point to 40 percent. Use of opiates: o For the most part, opiate use among adult male arrestees remained confined to a small number of sites. Most sites reported very low rates of opiate use among male arrestees. Only six sites reported rates of 10 percent or more: Chicago (with the highest rate of 22 percent), Manhattan, Philadelphia, Portland, St. Louis, and San Antonio. Use of at least one drug: o At every site, a majority of male arrestees tested positive for at least one of ten drugs, most commonly cocaine or marijuana. The rate of male arrestees testing positive for at least one drug ranged from 51 to 83 percent, which is largely unchanged from 1994. However, this composite measure masks important shifts in the use of specific drugs. For example, Detroit's 4-percent decrease in cocaine use was matched by a 4-percent increase in marijuana use. And although San Antonio reported a sharp 7-percent drop in cocaine use, it also reported a 4-percent rise in marijuana use. Moreover, this composite rate masks high levels of methamphetamine use at some western and southwestern sites. Drug Use Among the Youngest Adult Male Arrestees Drug use among the youngest (15 to 20 years old) adult male arrestees warrants special examination because many of those surveyed have not been apprehended previously. Drug use and criminal activity at a young age--and the criminal justice system's response--will shape subsequent behavior. It is among the youngest adult arrestees that drug use interventions and reductions in criminal activity could have greatest impact. (See the Guide to the DUF Site Data Tables on page 53 for an interpretation of age categories used in this report.) o At 21 of 23 sites, the youngest male arrestees had the lowest age-specific rate of cocaine use. o At every site, the youngest male arrestees had the highest age-specific rate of marijuana use. Rates of cocaine use among the youngest male arrestees ranged from 7 to 33 percent with a median of 22 percent, a small decline from 1994 levels (9 to 38 percent). Fifteen sites reported lower rates, including large decreases in Indianapolis (20 percentage points) and Miami (19 points). Rates for arrestees 21 years and older ranged from 19 to 75 percent. Rates of marijuana use, however, continued to rise for the youngest male arrestees, ranging from 34 to 74 percent with a median rate of 53 percent. Twenty of 23 sites reported increased use, including Atlanta (17 points), Chicago, St. Louis, San Antonio, and San Jose (11 points), and Birmingham (10 points). Rates for arrestees over the age of 20 were lower at all sites. o Only six sites reported that 5 percent or more of young adult male arrestees tested positive for opiates. The youngest male arrestees were less likely than their older counterparts to test positive for opiates. In only Chicago, Houston, Manhattan, New Orleans, Philadelphia, and St. Louis did at least 5 percent of these arrestees test positive for opiates. In contrast, at 18 sites 5 percent or more of arrestees 35 years old and over tested positive. Reports about an increasing number of heroin initiates among teenagers have raised fears of a renewed surge in use of the drug. However, the DUF data do not suggest a clear trend. The largest increases in opiate use among the youngest male arrestees were recorded in St. Louis and Houston, although small sample sizes diminish the significance of these increases. On the other hand, Chicago's opiate rate dropped to 5 percent (from 12 percent in 1994), and levels in other cities fluctuated only slightly. Drug Use Among Adult Female Arrestees Interviews and urine specimens were obtained from 8,065 adult female booked arrestees at 21 sites. o At most sites, cocaine use moderated slightly among adult female arrestees, while marijuana use remained largely unchanged. o At all 21 sites, cocaine use exceeded marijuana use among adult female arrestees. Use of marijuana: o Although some sites reported substantial increases, marijuana use remained fairly stable. The percentage of female arrestees testing positive for marijuana ranged from 11 to 24 percent. In 1994, the percentage ranged from 7 to 28. In 1995, however, two sites reported sizable increases: New Orleans (up 9 points to 16 percent) and Washington, D.C. (up 8 points to 18 percent). Most sites reported an increase or decrease of no more than 4 percent. Use of cocaine: o Cocaine use among female arrestees decreased slightly following a small increase in 1994. Since 1994, when rates ranged from 18 to 80 percent with a median of 50 percent, 15 sites have reported a decrease in cocaine use. This year, rates ranged from 16 to 71 percent with a median of 48 percent. The largest declines were reported in St. Louis (12 points), Cleveland (11 points), and Manhattan and Washington, D.C. (9 points). However, a few sites experienced substantial increases: Detroit (15 points), New Orleans (12 points), and San Diego (10 points). Use of opiates: o Apart from a sharp decline in Manhattan, opiate use among female arrestees remained largely unchanged. Opiate use among female arrestees has never approached the higher levels of cocaine or marijuana use. In 1995, opiate rates ranged from 2 to 19 percent. The most striking change was reported in Manhattan, where the rate fell 11 points to 19 percent. Nine other sites (Detroit, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, San Antonio, San Diego, San Jose, and Washington, D.C.) reported rates of 10 percent or higher. Use of at least one drug: o All but one site reported overall rates of drug use of 50 percent or greater among female arrestees. A majority of female arrestees at 20 sites tested positive for at least one of ten drugs. Rates across sites ranged from 41 to 84 percent. Consistent with past years, this overall measure of drug use was driven primarily by high rates of cocaine, marijuana, and, at a few sites, opiate or methamphetamine use. Drug Use Among the Youngest Adult Female Arrestees o Among female arrestees ages 15 to 20, rates of marijuana use generally exceeded those of cocaine use. o More than half of the sites reported declines in marijuana or cocaine use among the youngest female arrestees; six sites reported declines in both drugs. In general, drug use among the youngest adult female arrestees (15 to 20 years old) was lower than use among older arrestees and was lower than 1994 levels. Among the youngest female arrestees, cocaine use ranged from 3 to 34 percent and marijuana use ranged from 10 to 53 percent. As with male arrestees, rates for these arrestees differed sharply from those of their older counterparts. Rates of cocaine use among older female arrestees ranged from 17 to 76 percent, and rates of marijuana use ranged from 10 to 24 percent. Nine sites reported substantial declines in the percentage of the youngest female arrestees testing positive for cocaine or marijuana, although some rates are based on small samples. Omaha reported a 22-point drop in marijuana use, and other large declines were reported in Atlanta (17 points), Birmingham (11 points), St. Louis (8 points), and Washington, D.C. (8 points). Substantial decreases in cocaine use were reported in Manhattan (30 points), Indianapolis (29 points), Cleveland (20 points), and Detroit (12 points). The declines in Detroit and Manhattan were offset by sharp rises in marijuana use (27 and 26 points, respectively). Opiate use continued at generally low levels by this age group. Although most sites reported only minor fluctuations, Manhattan experienced a sharp decline from 29 to 5 percent. Drug Use Among Juvenile Male Arrestees/Detainees o In general, the 12 sites tracking drug use among juvenile male arrestees/detainees reported lower rates of cocaine use and higher rates of marijuana use. o At every site, marijuana use outstripped cocaine use among juvenile male arrestees/detainees, sometimes by a factor of 10. Seven sites reported higher rates of marijuana use, suggesting a slight moderation from 1994, when 11 sites reported increases over the previous year. Sites reporting the largest increases were San Diego (15 points), Birmingham (8 points), Indianapolis (7 points), and San Antonio (6 points). Rates ranged from 16 to 54 percent with a median of 41 percent. In 1994, DUF data showed a slight increase in cocaine use among juvenile male arrestees/detainees. Data for 1995 suggest that these rates have moderated slightly. Eight sites reported decreases in use, but these reductions were typically small. Drug use and school attendance: As part of the DUF interview, juvenile arrestees/detainees are asked whether they attend school regularly. (See the Guide to the DUF Site Tables on page 53 for an explanation of how this report measures school attendance.) In 1995, the proportion of juveniles reporting school attendance ranged from 60 to 88 percent; the median rate was 76 percent. o At 11 sites, the rate of cocaine use among juveniles not in school was higher than the rate among those attending school; at six sites, the rate of cocaine use was more than two-and-a-half times higher among those not in school. o All sites reported higher rates of marijuana use among juveniles not in school, although the rates were rarely more than 50 percent higher than those for juveniles attending school. Marijuana use was much higher than cocaine use among juvenile arrestee/detainees both attending and not attending school. However, the two groups differed more in their level of cocaine use. Seven sites reported rates of cocaine use among juveniles not in school that were at least twice those of juveniles attending school. In comparison, rates of marijuana use were more similar for the two groups: at only one site was the rate of marijuana use among juveniles not in school twice that of juveniles attending school. New DUF Data Analysis for 1995: Revisions to the DUF Interview Although the DUF interview obtains arrestees' self- reports of drug use and a number of other issues, annual reports have traditionally focused only on urinalysis results supplemented with demographic and booking data. In July 1995, NIJ expanded the interview instrument to capture additional self- reported data. Questions were added on the role of drugs in the commission of crimes, history of prior arrest, and emergency room treatment for drug- related emergencies. At times, obtaining valid self-reported data in a jail or lockup can be difficult. The sensitivity of the topic, the proximity of jail staff, the confidence arrestees have in the guarantee of anonymity, and the lucidness of respondents all affect the data collection process. These issues do not constitute insurmountable obstacles to the validity of the data; rather, they present challenges to be addressed in the research design. The expansion of the DUF interview to include a broader range of questions reflects NIJ's belief that DUF offers criminal justice researchers a rare opportunity to examine a number of important drug- and crime-related issues within the context of an arrestee interview. An analysis of responses by adult male and female arrestees is presented below. Results given here should be considered preliminary. Following a full year of data collection with the revised DUF instrument, NIJ will evaluate the utility of new questions in light of the data they produce. Drug use and the commission of crimes: o Ten percent of male arrestees and 14 percent of female arrestees stated that they were in need of drugs or alcohol at the time of their alleged offense. o Thirty-one percent of both male and female arrestees reported that they were under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of their alleged offense. Arrestees were asked a pair of questions regarding the role that drugs played in the commission of a criminal act: At the time the police say you committed this crime, were you in need of drugs or alcohol? At the time the police said you committed this crime, were you under the influence of drugs or alcohol? These questions test two hypotheses linking drug use with crime, especially predatory (violent or property) crimes. Goldstein (1985) has proposed a tripartite framework of three possible links between drugs and crime. First, some crime, particularly violent crime, is systemic to the drug trade and to the street drug market. Second, some crime is economic-compulsive, brought on by addiction and the need to obtain more drugs. Third, crime may be caused by drugs' psychopharmacological effect; in particular, some drugs may have a strong disinhibiting effect. Questions in the DUF interview focus on the latter two aspects of Goldstein's tripartite and elicit information about current alleged offenses.1 Of the 9,363 adult male arrestees interviewed over two quarters of data collection, 10 percent stated that they were in need of drugs or alcohol at the time of their alleged offense. Of these arrestees, 44 percent were in need of cocaine (in some form), and 37 percent were in need of alcohol. (Multiple responses were permitted.) Thirty-one percent reported that they were under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the offense. Three-fifths of these respondents were under the influence of alcohol, and 24 percent were under the influence of cocaine. Of the 3,592 adult female arrestees surveyed, 14 percent stated that they were in need of drugs or alcohol at the time of their alleged offense. Of this group, 57 percent were in need of cocaine and 33 percent were in need of alcohol. Like their male counterparts, 31 percent of females reported that they were under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the offense; 58 percent of these respondents were under the influence of alcohol, and 37 percent were under the influence of cocaine. Prior arrests: o Forty percent of male arrestees and 34 percent of female arrestees stated that they had been arrested at least once in the 12 months prior to their interview. Since DUF data incorporate booking information for only the current arrrest, self-report is a useful means of obtaining additional data on recidivism. The revised survey seeks information on arrests in the 12 months prior to the interview. The number of arrests is recorded as well as the offenses for which the arrests occurred. Among male arrestees, 23 percent reported one prior arrest and 17 percent reported two or more prior arrests during the 12 months before the interview. Among female arrestees, 18 percent reported one prior arrest and 15 percent reported two or more. Preliminary analysis suggests that those with prior arrests tend to be slightly older and more likely to test positive for drugs at the time of the interview. Additional analyses will examine differences in the types of offenses involved in prior arrests and will investigate the effect of age and arrest history on the likelihood of testing positive for drug use. Emergency room treatment for drug-related problems: o Eight percent of male arrestees and 13 percent of female arrestees sought care at an emergency room for a drug-related problem in the 12 months prior to their interview. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), through its Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN), tracks drug-related emergency room visits through a network of health agencies and medical examiners. The revised DUF interview is designed to determine the extent to which arrestees are represented in drug-related emergency room data, and arrestees were asked if they sought care at an emergency medical facility for a drug-related problem in the 12 months prior to their interview. Further analysis of these data in consultation with SAMSHA researchers will determine whether supplemental questions are warranted. Conclusions DUF data provide essential information about the link between drugs and crime, consistently documenting the large proportion of persons under criminal justice supervision who use drugs. It is likely, however, that DUF data underestimate the proportion of arrestees who have used drugs less recently because urinalysis reveals the presence of most drugs only within 48 to 72 hours of their use. Small studies of arrestees using hair sample analysis support this suspicion. With substantial numbers of arrestees involved with drugs, it is tempting to claim a victory when the drug use rate for a category of arrestees dips by a few percentage points. But these small successes do not change the overarching truth: drug use characterizes a substantial number of persons entering the criminal justice system. Failure to acknowledge this truth exacerbates the cycle of drugs and crime and exacts an increasingly high price from our society. It must not escape our attention that the criminal justice system may represent the best opportunity these individuals will ever have to confront and overcome their drug use and criminal behavior. Several initiatives now in place are giving offenders such an opportunity. Drug courts combine the surveillance of drug testing with alternative sanctions and treatment options to give drug-involved offenders a pathway to recovery. Prison-based treatment initiatives deliver effective programs that help offenders reenter society. Unfortunately, demand for programs often exceeds the criminal justice system's resources, and investments must be guided by careful evaluation of the effectiveness of competing treatment protocols. Of greatest concern is the continued rise in drug use among juveniles and the youngest adult arrestees and the resources their treatment will require. Some solace can be taken in these young offenders' low rates of cocaine use, but this must be weighed against their increasing rates of marijuana use. As this generation grows older, their drug use will become an even greater strain on the resources of our courts, jails, prisons, and drug treatment facilities. To meet these challenges, NIJ, working with other Federal agencies, will continue to help the field of criminal justice better understand substance abuse treatment by assessing the effectiveness of drug courts, boot camps for drug-involved offenders, and in-prison drug treatment programs. NIJ will also continue to support research in drug testing technology that will play a central role in monitoring drug abstinence. Finally, NIJ is working to expand and improve the Drug Use Forecasting program. NIJ's Office of Research and Evaluation has proposed improving DUF sampling methods, expanding data collection to more cities, and including arrestees in suburban and rural communities. Making these improvements will enhance our ability to assess and respond to drug use patterns. While these proposals are under review, NIJ will continue to provide the best possible analysis of data we collect by conducting focused research initiatives and sharing that vital information with the criminal justice community. Thomas E. Feucht, Ph.D. DUF Program Director Reference: Goldstein, Paul J. "The drugs/violence nexus: A tripartite conceptual framework." Journal of Drug Issues 14: 493-506. Special Report on Methamphetamine Use Among Arrestees Concern continues to mount about the apparent increase in the production, distribution, and use of methamphetamine. The drug, a powerful central nervous system stimulant, is relatively easy to manufacture, and its precursors (such as ephedrine or pseudoephedrine) are believed to be widely available in Mexico and smuggled into the United States in substantial quantities. Production of the drug results in a host of toxic and corrosive substances. For this reason, seizing clandestine methamphetamine laboratories poses grave risks to law enforcement personnel. Historically, methamphetamine production and distribution has been associated with motorcycle gangs. Recently, Mexican drug gangs have increased their share of the U.S. wholesale methamphetamine market, a development that is consistent with reports placing the bulk of increased methamphetamine use in the southwest region of the United States. Drug enforcement officials are worried, however, that seizures of the drug and related fatalities in other parts of the United States may signal an impending methamphetamine pandemic. Analysis DUF data for 1995 were analyzed to determine the extent of methamphetamine use among adult male and female arrestees. Overall, DUF sites did not report a dramatic surge in methamphetamine use: approximately 6 percent of all adult and juvenile arrestees tested positive for methamphetamine. In comparison, 36 percent of all arrestees tested positive for cocaine, 30 percent for marijuana, 7 percent for opiates, and about 2 percent for PCP. Considerable variation was found in the level of methamphetamine use across sites (see figure 1). Eight sites reported significant rates of use, including San Diego (31 percent), Phoenix (20 percent), San Jose (16 percent), Portland (15 percent), Omaha (8 percent), Los Angeles (6 percent), and Denver and Dallas (3 percent). Other sites reported rates of methamphetamine use among arrestees at or near zero percent. The analysis presented here focuses on results for adult arrestees at these eight sites. Sample size for each site was approximately 1,700 arrestees. Results o Methamphetamine use among arrestees is highest in western and southwestern sites. Methamphetamine use figures prominently in the drug use patterns at these specific sites. The graph on the back cover shows that at some sites (San Diego, Phoenix, and San Jose) use of methamphetamine rivals or surpasses use of other drugs. o Methamphetamine use is typically higher among female arrestees. Figure 2 shows higher methamphetamine use by female arrestees in every offense category. (The number of male prostitution arrestees is too small to make statistical comparisons.) For violent offenses, 11 percent of female arrestees tested positive for methamphetamine compared to 10 percent of male arrestees. The peak age of use among adult male arrestees is 26 to 30 years of age; among females it is 21 to 25. o Methamphetamine use by adult male and female white arrestees far exceeds that by black or Hispanic arrestees. In the eight sites with the highest methamphetamine rates, male and female white arrestees were much more likely than others to test positive: 26 percent and 28 percent, respectively, compared with 3 percent of both black males and females. Among Hispanic arrestees, 11 percent of males and 15 percent of females tested positive. Figure 3 presents trend data from 1991 through 1995 for methamphetamine use in the eight sites. San Diego and Phoenix consistently reported the highest rates. In addition, the data showed a sharp increase (from 3 percent in 1994 to 8 percent in 1995) in Omaha. Discussion Data on methamphetamine collected by DUF provide important insights into the drug's use by persons entering the criminal justice system. Methamphetamine use remains a regional phenomenon, although recent data suggest that sites such as Denver, Omaha, and St. Louis could experience significant increases if current trends continue. Despite the fact that these data do not consider the wide range of potential users outside the criminal justice system, they suggest a leading edge of methamphetamine use in western and southwestern cities. Recent results from Denver and Omaha suggest that use may be expanding into the Midwest. Also of note is the finding that methamphetamine use among both male and female arrestees is largely confined to white (and to a lesser degree, Hispanic) persons. Finally, female arrestees test positive for methamphetamine use at rates higher than those for male arrestees. It is unclear whether this finding is a function of law enforcement practices that target male and female arrestees differently, variations between male and female metabolization rates and body size, or women's more widespread use of the drug. Conclusions Given the recent upturn in methamphetamine use in Omaha, the potential for increased use throughout the Midwest and other areas of the United States cannot be ignored. Treatment providers should have in place treatment strategies that anticipate a significant increase in methamphetamine referrals, especially from the criminal justice system. A useful approach to developing such strategies might be implementing demonstration programs for methamphetamine-involved offenders in cities with significant numbers of methamphetamine users. The National Institute of Justice has begun to formulate a demonstration plan that would test drug treatment protocols for methamphetamine-involved persons in the criminal justice system. Drawing on the expertise of drug treatment professionals, NIJ hopes to support the development of effective methamphetamine treatment technologies as the criminal justice system confronts the continuing challenges of drugs and crime. Thomas E. Feucht and Gabrielle M. Kyle Office of Research and Evaluation, NIJ Methodology Each quarter, trained local DUF staff obtain voluntary and anonymous urine specimens and interviews from adult arrestees and juvenile arrestees/detainees who have been in a booking facility for not more than 48 hours. Data and urine samples are collected at selected booking facilities throughout the United States. At each of the 23 adult sites, approximately 225 adult males are interviewed each quarter. In all except 2 sites, approximately 100 adult females are also sampled. At 12 of these sites, data and samples are collected each quarter for approximately 100 juvenile male arrestees/detainees. Ten of these sites also collect data on female juvenile arrestees/detainees. However, given the small sample size of DUF female juvenile arrestees/detainees, these data are not presented here. Response rates for both adults and juveniles are consistently high. More than 90 percent of the total sample consent to be interviewed and over 80 percent agree to provide a urine specimen. Adult arrestees are selected at the discretion of site personnel, who are guided by a target sample size and crime charge priority system. To obtain samples of adult male arrestees with a sufficient distribution of serious arrest charges, DUF interviewers, where possible, place a priority on felony arrestees and those arrested for offenses other than the sale or possession of drugs. Analyses have shown that those arrested for drug offenses are more likely than other arrestees to be using drugs; as a result, DUF statistics are likely minimum estimates of drug use among the population of those adults arrested for serious offenses. With the exception of Omaha, where all arrestees are included to obtain a sample of sufficient size, males charged with driving offenses generally are excluded from the sample due to DUF's emphasis on more serious crimes. Because they are fewer in number, all adult female arrestees and all juvenile male and female arrestees/detainees brought to the booking center during the data collection period are included in the DUF sample, regardless of the charge. At most sites, adult and juvenile catchment areas are identical. In 10 adult sites, the catchment area is the entire city. In another 10 adult sites and in 9 of 12 juvenile sites, it is the entire county or parish. (The city of Denver is Denver County in its entirety.) However, in Birmingham and San Diego, the catchment area includes the city and part of the county. In St. Louis and Washington, D.C., it is only the city, excluding the surrounding county, and in Los Angeles it comprises parts of the city and county. All urine specimens are sent to a central laboratory for analysis for 10 drugs: cocaine, opiates, marijuana, PCP, methadone, benzodiazepines, methaqualone, propoxphene, barbiturates, and amphetamines. All positive results for amphetamines are confirmed by gas chromatography to eliminate those caused only by over-the-counter medications. For most drugs, urinalysis can detect use within the previous 2 to 3 days; use of marijuana and PCP can sometimes be detected several weeks after use. Guide to DUF Site Data Tables Pages 16 to 51 of this report contain 1-page summaries of essential data from each of the juvenile and adult DUF sites. Results are for the sample of booked adult male and female arrestees and juvenile male arrestees/detainees. Data on adult female arrestees were collected at all but two sites. Sample selection procedures differ for male and female arrestees and for juvenile male arrestees/detainees (see Methodology, page 11).1 Catchment area, sample size, age, and race. Catchment areas for DUF collection of adult data vary across sites. In most cases, the entire county or city constitutes the area from which arrestees are drawn. At a few sites, the catchment area is a specific precinct or set of precincts within the city or county. In Los Angeles, the catchment area comprises parts of the city and county. Sample size indicates the number of adult arrestees and juvenile arrestees/detainees who completed the DUF interview and provided a urine specimen. Among juveniles, no distinction is made between arrestees and detainees. The sample is the total across four quarterly collection periods in 1994. For some results, sample size is reduced slightly due to missing data. Percentage distributions by age and race are shown for each site. Typically, these data are obtained from official booking records at the facility. While the minimum age of arrestees at adult facilities is usually 18, a small number of persons under the age of 18 are encountered among the adult arrestees. Because of this, the youngest age category for adults is reported as 15 to 20. For similar reasons, the oldest age category among juveniles is 17 to 18. For adult male arrestees, the percentage distribution of the offense at arrest reflects the facility population at the time of DUF data collection subject to selection guidelines stipulated by NIJ. Specifically, adult males arrested for drug offenses are limited to not more than 20 percent of the sample, and a priority is placed on felony arrestees over misdemeanor and ordinance arrestees.2 For adult female arrestees and for juveniles, the percentage distribution of the offense at arrest is a function of the composition of the population of arrestees/detainees at the facility at the time of collection. No categories of female or juvenile arrestees are excluded or undersampled. Urinalysis results by offense at arrest. As with the age and race of the adult arrestee and juvenile arrestee/detainee, information on the offense at arrest is obtained from official booking records. For reporting purposes, violent offenses include robbery, assault, weapons offenses, extortion, homicide, kidnapping, manslaughter, sexual assault, and rape. Property offenses include larceny/theft, burglary, motor vehicle theft, arson, possession of stolen property, bribery, and pickpocketing. Drug offenses comprise drug possession and drug sales. Other offenses are public peace offenses, flight/escape, traffic offenses (primarily driving while intoxicated/driving under the influence), being under the influence of a controlled substance, probation or parole violation, family offenses, resisting arrest, sex offenses (other than sexual assault or rape), liquor law violations, obscenity, gambling, embezzlement, and other miscellaneous offenses including, for juveniles, violating curfew or home supervision. For females, prostitution is reported in a separate category. Urinalysis results for cocaine, marijuana, and any drug are shown for the total sample of arrestees, for each broad category of offenses, and for specific offenses. The number of arrestees in each category is shown in parentheses. Specific offenses were chosen because they constitute significant numbers of arrestees across sites. Though the distribution of arrestees across offense categories varies from one site to another, the same offenses are shown for each site. Unavoidably, for some sites the number of cases in a specific offense category is very small. Drug use by adult male and female booked arrestees and male juvenile arrestees/detainees. This bar graph shows the percentage who were urine positive for drugs at the time of the DUF interview according to EMITTM. The graph shows the percentage positive for any of 10 drugs (listed at the bottom of each page), for cocaine, marijuana, and opiates, and for multiple drugs. The percentage positive is also tabulated by age and race. Drug use trends among booked arrestees. DUF data collection for adult arrestees began in 1987 in 12 sites while that for juvenile male arrestees/detainees began in 1988 at 2 sites. By 1990, this effort had expanded to include adults and juveniles in nearly all the sites reported here. Some, like Atlanta, started data collection in 1991. The last site to begin collecting juvenile data was Denver in 1991. To provide comparability throughout the tables, data series are reported beginning with 1990. Gaps in the line graphs represent periods when data were not collected or when sample size was insufficient for monitoring purposes. Graphs for both male and female adult arrestees are presented for 21 sites; male data are shown for 2 additional sites. Drugs positive among male juveniles by school attendance. Urinalysis results for any drug, for cocaine, marijuana, and for multiple drugs are shown by school attendance for juvenile arrestees/detainees. Data on school attendance are based on self-report and do not provide a measure of frequency of attendance or academic achievement. Although some arrestees/detainees have successfully completed their schooling, this number is typically too small for analysis, and results in the graph are presented only for those still in school and for those who no longer attend but have not graduated. Juveniles interviewed during the summer months are asked if they plan to attend when school resumes in the fall. 1 Previous DUF reports omitted urinalysis results for categories of arrestees with fewer than 20 cases. Beginning with this report, urinalysis results are presented together with sample size for each category of arrestees, thereby providing a basis for assessing statistical significance. 2 NIJ is reviewing the sampling procedures currently used in the DUF program. Any change in sampling procedures will be noted here in future reports, together with implications of the change for comparison of series data.