| Summary: | The majority of drug use data obtained by researchers thus far has been generated through the use of self-reports and urinalyses. In fact, such methods are often the only way to accurately identify individuals who use drugs. There has only been a minimal amount of research concerning the reliability of the self-reported drug use among arrestees in the Drug Use Forecasting (DUF) program. The purpose of this paper is to present initial evidence on the reliability of self-reported interview data when compared to urinalysis, and to give a detailed description of the variables associated with the accuracy of self-reports. The data were obtained from 2,400 arrestees in the Drug Use Forecasting (DUF) program in Omaha, Nebraska from 1987 to 1991. Analyses revealed that those who are non-white, felons, or who perceive a need for drug treatment are more apt to misrepresent themselves in the self-reporting of cocaine
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