DECRIMINALIZATION OF URINALYSIS (FROM CRITICAL CONCERNS IN THE FIELD OF DRUG ABUSE - PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD NATIONAL DRUG ABUSE CONFERENCE, INC, 1978)

• NCJ Number: 54358
• Author(s): R B KAHN; N T SCHRAMM
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 5 pages
• Corporate Author: Marcel Dekker, Inc
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: CONFERENCE HELD IN NEW YORK (NY), 1976

Annotation

THE USE OF URINALYSIS AS A MEASURE OF DRUG USE FOR THE PURPOSE OF DETERMINING CLIENTS' SUCCESS OR FAILURE IN TREATMENT PERFORMANCE IS CRITICIZED.

Abstract

THE RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE OPERATION OF METHADONE MAINTENANCE DRUG TREATMENT PROGRAMS REQUIRE URINALYSIS TESTS TO DETERMINE THE DRUG USE PATTERNS OF CLIENTS. IT IS NOTED THAT IN CALIFORNIA TAKE-HOME DOSAGE PRIVILEGES ARE TIED SPECIFICALLY TO THE RESULTS OF URINALYSIS. FURTHER, URINALYSIS RESULTS ARE FREQUENTLY USED AS EVIDENCE FOR ESTABLISHING FAILURE TO CONFORM TO CONDITIONS FOR TREATMENT, AND THUS BECOME GROUNDS FOR EXPULSION FROM TREATMENT PROGRAMS, FREQUENTLY TO BE SEVERELY PROSECUTED UNDER THE TERMS OF A DIVERSION AGREEMENT. SUCH USES OF URINALYSIS ARE CRITICIZED BY REASONING FROM THE PRESUMPTION THAT DRUG ABUSE IS LIKE ANY OTHER ILLNESS BEING TREATED MEDICALLY. JUST AS MEDICAL DOCTORS DO NOT USE TEST RESULTS AS A BASIS FOR JUDGING PATIENTS' FAITHFULNESS IN FOLLOWING PRESCRIBED PROCEDURES OR AS A BASIS FOR TERMINATING TREATMENT, SO, IT IS ARGUED, URINALYSIS SHOULD NOT BE USED PUNITIVELY IN THE TREATMENT OF DRUG ABUSE. USED PROPERLY, URINALYSIS CAN SHOW THE DEGREE TO WHICH TREATMENT GOALS ARE BEING MET WITH EACH CLIENT AND ALSO GIVE EVIDENCE IF A CLIENT IS ENCOUNTERING DIFFICULTY IN DEALING WITH PERSONAL PROBLEMS THAT MAY PRESSURE HIM OR HER TO DRUG USE. IF SOME OBJECTIVE INDICATION OF CLIENT PROGRESS IS MANDATORY, IT IS SUGGESTED THAT EMPLOYMENT, FAMILY STABILITY, OR REGULAR INVOLVEMENT IN A TREATMENT PROGRAM COULD PROVIDE SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE. (RCB)