Responding to Drug Test Results

Rather than simply drug testing all criminal justice clients, practitioners should consider the reason for testing and how it can help with long-term outcomes. Drug testing should be accompanied by a discussion of substance misuse, which can give clients the opportunity to disclose relevant information. Any discrepancies between self-reported drug use and drug test results should be discussed. Hunt et al. (2015) stated, “it is logical that individuals will deny or underreport their drug use in circumstances where that use is embarrassing and/or stigmatized,” as well as when there are “very real negative consequences that come from telling the truth.” One study found that marijuana users were more likely to admit drug use than other drug users. The authors hypothesize that this is due to marijuana being more commonly used, less stigmatized, and legalized in some states. Younger users of opioids are less likely to admit to using them.

A positive drug test can guide a change in substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. Even negative tests deserve discussion as the client could have used a drug that is not detected, and it does not rule out a SUD.