UCLA

Background

The validity and concordance of two main measures of drug use behavior, self-report and urinalysis, has long been discussed. More understanding is needed about the underlying factors associated with discordance between these two methods.

Objectives

Describe the pattern and associated factors of discordance between self-reported heroin use and the urinalysis results of opiate use among methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) patients in China.

Methods

A total of 2,448 MMT patients from 68 clinics in five provinces of China participated in a survey, which collected information on demographics, drug use and MMT-related factors, depressive symptoms, and drug avoidance self-efficacy. The most recent urine morphine test result was obtained from medical records and compared with self-reported heroin use. Participants who had urinalysis within 14 days of the survey were included in the analysis.

Results

Among the 1,092 participants, 70 (6.4%) self-reported heroin use and 195 (17.9%) had positive urinalysis results. The over-reporters group had significantly higher education, and the under-reporters had significantly higher level of drug-avoidance self-efficacy and lower level of depressive symptoms. Among the participants who either self-reported heroin use or had positive urinalysis results, being young, having higher education, and having lower level of depressive symptoms were associated with discordance between self-reports and urinalysis results.

Conclusion

The combination of both measures in assessing drug use behavior seems necessary. The validity of self-report should be considered differently based on demographic and psychosocial characteristics.