Detection of misreported drug use in forensic populations: an overview of hair analysis. Bull Am Acad Psychiatry Law

Criminal and civil forensic evaluations are frequently complicated by misreported (denied or exaggerated) substance abuse. This article provides an introduction to the use of radioimmunoassay of hair (RIAH). RlAH with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry confirmation is superior to the more commonly employed urinalysis in its (1) wider window of detection, (2) ability to provide a chronology of sub-stance abuse, and (3) resistance to countermeasures. The potential implications of the RlAH procedure to retrospective and prospective forensic evaluations are discussed. A critical dimension of forensic evalua-tion is the accurate appraisal of anteced-ents and determinants of psychiatric im-pairment. Particularly problematic are efforts to assess substance abuse and its potential role in both criminal and civil cases. ' Many criminal defendants are un-willing to divulge the nature and extent of their substance abuse, fearing additional drug-related charges and generally more punitive ~en tenc ing. ~ Similar concerns surface in civil cases in which socially appropriate conduct is expected in family matters3 (e.g., child custody, competency to parent) and official duties4 ' (e.g., fit-Dr. Kelly is an assistant professor of psychology and coordinates a psychoneuroirnmunology research labora-tory at the University of North Texas. Dr. Rogers is a professor of psychology and director of clinical trainin