Cocaine Use in Arrestees: Refining Measures of National Trends by Sampling the Criminal Population

Abstract

Estimates of drug use in the United States are typically computed from surveys of household members or students. The Drug Use Forecasting (DUF) program estimates drug use in arrestees in the nation's largest cities, using self-reports and urinalysis. DUF results show high rates of recent cocaine use in arrestees. A more accurate picture of U.S. drug use trends requires objective measures in criminal and hidden populations in addition to household members and students.

Key Words:

• Drug use
• Cocaine
• Forecasting
• Arrestees
• Hidden populations
• Trends