A Procedure for Assessing the Validity of Self-Report Data on High-Risk Sex Behaviors from Heroin Addicts Entering Free Methadone Treatment

Abstract

A procedure is described for determining the validity of self-reported high-risk sex behaviors obtained from heroin addicts entering a research demonstration project providing free methadone maintenance. The procedure included: classifying subjects with inconsistencies in self-reported data provided at eligibility screening and later interviews as “falsifiers;” comparing admitted or suspected falsifiers with others on a range of background variables; and comparing the rate of inconsistency between self-reported drug use and urinalysis results for falsifiers and non-falsifiers. Falsifiers were more likely to be older and male and to fail to report cocaine use at treatment entry; non-falsifiers were more likely to underreport benzodiazepine use at follow-up. Falsifiers did not differ in their personality characteristics, and thus were probably responding to perceived situational consequences. Researchers offering free treatment need to use a variety of means for obtaining information to validate self-reported risk behavior.