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Alternative models of instant drug testing: evidence from an experimental trial

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Abstract

Objective

This study describes and provides relapse and recidivism outcome findings related to an experimental trial evaluating the viability of frequent, random drug testing with consequences for use.

Methods

The sample consisted of 529 offenders released on parole. An experimental design with random assignment to one of three groups was employed. The Experimental Group received frequent, random drug testing with instant results, immediate sanctions, and referral for substance abuse treatment. Control Group I received frequent, random drug testing and treatment referral, but did not receive immediate test results or immediate sanctions. Control Group II followed standard parole practice. Members of this group were not tested on a random basis and did not receive immediate sanctions. Repeated measures ANOVA and survival analysis techniques were used to explore group differences.

Results

Frequent monitoring of drug use with randomized testing protocols, immediate feedback, and certain consequences is effective in lowering rates of relapse and recidivism. The effectiveness is particularly salient in the short term during the period of exposure to testing conditions.

Conclusions

The findings lend support to the use of randomized testing with swift and certain sanctions with parolees. Additional quality evidence is necessary to generalize and refine findings from this study and others that focus on sanction certainty. Future replications must consider the immediacy of test result and sanction execution as well as the length of exposure to randomized testing periods.

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Notes

  1. The reason for the below average tests per week was that the initial protocol called for tests to be administered 7 days a week. However, weekend staffing issues at the local jail led to tests only being administered during the traditional working week. The protocol was revised to 5 days a week  prior to the start of the program. Test per week data use 7 as a denominator, which lowers calculated averages.

  2. As a check on the sensitivity of the results, random effect probit models were estimated. The random effect models allowed for individual variation in the response to the experimental conditions. There were no differences between the random effect and ANOVA models with regard to the experimental conditions. Identical results were obtained. The random effect models did caution the interpretation of the interaction effects of time for the proportion of participants with at least one positive and the main effects of time in the rate of positive testing. It is clear the group differences present at 6 months remain at 18 months for both indicators of relapse, which explains why the effect of time was not significant in the random effect models. As a result, the effect of time should be interpreted from the ANOVA models with this context in mind.

  3. Random effect probit models were also estimated to check the sensitivity of recidivism outcomes. Once again, identical results were obtained. There were no differences between the random effect and ANOVA models.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis, 801 W. Michigan St., BS 4067, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA

    Eric Grommon

  2. Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Central Connecticut State University, 411 Vance Academic Center, New Britain, CT, 06050, USA

    Stephen M. Cox

  3. Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, 132 Psychology Building, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA

    William S. Davidson II

  4. School of Criminal Justice, Michigan State University, 560 Baker Hall, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA

    Timothy S. Bynum

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  1. Eric Grommon
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  2. Stephen M. Cox
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  3. William S. Davidson II
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  4. Timothy S. Bynum
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Correspondence to Eric Grommon.

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Grommon, E., Cox, S.M., Davidson, W.S. et al. Alternative models of instant drug testing: evidence from an experimental trial. J Exp Criminol 9, 145–168 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11292-012-9168-6

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