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Ethical and Social‐Psychological Aspects of Urinalysis to Detect Heroin Use *
Author(s) -
Lewis Virginia S.,
Petersen David M.,
Geis Gilbert,
Pollack Seymour
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
british journal of addiction to alcohol and other drugs
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.424
H-Index - 193
eISSN - 1360-0443
pISSN - 0007-0890
DOI - 10.1111/j.1360-0443.1972.tb01211.x
Subject(s) - urinalysis , psychology , subject (documents) , anxiety , test (biology) , addiction , heroin , medicine , psychiatry , urine , computer science , paleontology , drug , library science , biology
Summary This paper is concerned with the social scientific aspects of urinalysis procedures in the detection of heroin use. Data on attitudes toward urinalysis and subject behavior in regard to the test were derived from interviews with 53 former addicts who were subject to urinalysis as part of their release requirements from a federal commitment program. The study results indicate that a great deal of anxiety is associated with urinalysis both for the former addicts and the supervisory staff. Information is also provided on the procedures used by the former addicts to subvert the test. The accuracy of urinalysis tests under field conditions is questioned.