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Bureau of Justice Statistics

Drugs & Crime Data

March 1992

Fact Sheet: Drug Testing

in the Criminal Justice System
As part of ongoing research the Drugs & tion hearings. Drug tests in prisons can that a positive immunoassay be retested
Crime Data Center & Clearinghouse pre- also assist in monitoring drug use in cor- and confirmed, preferably by a different
pared this fact sheet on drug testing in rectional facilities and by inmates during technique of equal or greater sensitivity,
the criminal justice system. “Drug test- temporary absences from the institution. such as gas chromatography/mass
ing” in this fact sheet refers to urinalysis, spectrometry.4
● Identify persons in need of treatment.
since that is the testing methodology
Drug tests can identify drug users who Chromatography involves separating
typically used throughout the criminal
can be placed in treatment. Drug testing and identifying the components of a
justice system.
is also used to monitor persons undergo- specimen. GC/MS (gas chromatogra-
ing drug treatment. phy/mass spectrometry) is considered to
▲

Who is tested? be “the most legally defensible” method

▲

Drug testing can take place in all stages Drug testing technology of urinalysis.5 GC/MS testing, however,
of the criminal justice system: arrest, in is more expensive than immunoassay
There are two primary methods of
the pretrial phase, and during incarcera- testing (typically between $25 and $100
detecting drugs in the urine: immunoas-
tion, probation, and parole. Testing does a test),6 more time consuming, and more
says and chromatography. Immunoas-
not, however, take place in all stages in complex (needs to be done by a labora-
says are the most common method for
all jurisdictions. tory). Other chromatography methods in-
initial screening in the criminal justice
clude TLC (thin-layer chromatography),
system, using antibodies to detect the
▲

What is the purpose of GLC (gas-liquid chromatography),

presence or absence of drugs in the
drug testing? and HPLC (high-performance
urine. The specimen is compared to a
liquid chromatography).
Drug testing in the criminal justice sys- calibrator, which contains a known
tem can serve several purposes: quantity of the drug being tested. If the Drug testing methods other than urinaly-
sample specimen is higher than or equal sis include blood, hair, and saliva analy-
● Inform judges for bail-setting and
to the calibrator, then the test is consid- sis, but are not used extensively in the
sentencing. For example, a positive drug
ered positive. If the specimen is lower criminal justice system at this time either
test at the time of arrest may result in a
than the calibrator, then the test is con- because of high costs, because the tech-
pretrial release condition that incorpo-
sidered negative. nology is not yet fully developed, and/or
rates periodic drug testing. A subse-
are more intrusive.
quent failed drug test could result in An immunoassay commonly used in the
revocation of bail or other more stringent criminal justice system is EMIT  (en-
▲

release conditions. zyme multiplied immunoassay tech- What can positive test
nique) manufactured by Syva Company. results indicate?
● Indicate whether specified rules or
EMIT can be conducted in-house and A positive drug test can show the pres-
conditions are being complied with. If a
costs under $5 for each drug tested.3 ence or absence of specific drugs in urine
defendant is being monitored while on
Other methods used include Abuscreen at the detectable level of the test. How-
pretrial release, probation, parole, work
RIA (radio immunoassay) by Roche Di- ever, it cannot determine the dosage,
release, or furlough, a drug test can help
agnostics and TDx FPIA (fluorescence when the drug was administered, how
ensure that he or she is remaining drug-
polarization immunoassay) by Abbott it was administered, or the degree
free. The results may be used in revoca-
Laboratories. Toxicologists recommend of impairment.

A product of the Drugs & Crime Data Center & Clearinghouse 1–800–666–3332
A negative result does not guarantee that Notes Other sources
the individual did not consume the drugs 1
The White House, National drug con- American Medical Association, Council
being tested for. The level of the drug
trol strategy, February 1991, p. 34. on Scientific Affairs. 1987. “Scientific
may not have been high enough to ex-
2 issues in drug testing.” Journal of the
ceed the test’s cutoff level. The White House, National drug con-
American Medical Association
trol strategy, February 1992, p. 127.
Most drugs can be detected in urine for 257(22):3110–3114.
3
up to 3 days after being taken; some up Eric Wish, “Drug testing,” Crime file,
Wish, Eric. 1990. “Drug testing.”
to 2 weeks (see table). 1990, National Institute of Justice, p. 2.
Crime file. Washington, D.C.: U.S. De-
4
It is possible for a legal substance to in- Richard L. Hawks, “Analytical method- partment of Justice, National Institute of
teract with a substance in a urine speci- ology,” in Urine testing for drugs of Justice.
men resulting in a “false positive,” a abuse, National Institute on Drug Abuse
Wish, Eric D. and Bernard A. Gropper.
positive drug test even though an illicit Research Monograph 73, 1986, p. 38.
1990. “Drug testing by the criminal jus-
drug was not in fact used. Such reac- 5
Michael Peat, “Analytical and technical tice system: Methods, research, and ap-
tions have reportedly, although infre-
aspects of testing for drug abuse: plications.” In Crime and justice, Vol.
quently, occurred from antihistamines,
Confirmatory procedures,” Clinical 13, ed. James Q. Wilson and Michael
ibuprofen, and other anti-inflammatory
Chemistry, 34(3), p. 471. Tonry, 321–390. Chicago, Ill.: Univer-
drugs, and poppyseeds. Proper confir-
6 sity of Chicago.
mation procedures should guard against Bureau of Justice Assistance, U.S. De-
false positive results. partment of Justice, Estimating the costs
of drug testing for a pretrial services
program, Monograph, June 1989, p. 9.

Duration of detectability of drugs in urine This fact sheet was written by Anita
Drug Retention time during which detectable Timrots, Senior Research Analyst
at the Drugs & Crime Data Center
Amphetamines and methamphetamines 48 hrs. & Clearinghouse. The Bureau of
Barbiturates short-acting (e.g., secobarbital), 24 hrs. Justice Statistics manages this data
long-acting (e.g., phenobarbital), 7 or more days center and clearinghouse, with
partial funding by the Bureau of
Benzodiazepines 3 days if therapeutic dose ingested Justice Assistance, to support drug
Cocaine metabolites 2–3 days control policy research. For addi-
tional sources on drug testing, see
Methadone approximately 3 days
Drug Testing: Selected Bibliogra-
Opiates 2 days phy and Drug Testing in the Work-
Propoxyphene (Darvon) 6–48 hrs. place: Selected Bibliography,
which are available from the Drugs
Cannabinoids single use, 3 days & Crime Data Center & Clearing-
moderate smoker (4 times/week), 5 days house. For further information
heavy smoker (daily), 10 days
concerning the content of this fact
chronic smoker, 21–27 days
sheet or other drugs and crime
Methaqualone 7 or more days issues, call
Phencyclidine (PCP) approximately 8 days
1–800–666–3332
Note: Retention times may vary depending on variables including drug metabolism and half-life, or write the Drugs & Crime Data
patient’s physical condition, fluid intake, and method and frequency of ingestion. Center & Clearinghouse, 1600
Source: Journal of the American Medical Association, 1987, “Scientific issues in drug testing,” Research Boulevard, Rockville,
257(22), p. 3112. MD 20850.