Measurement of Illicit Drug Consumption in Small Populations: Prognosis for Noninvasive Drug Testing of Student Populations

The abuse of illicit drugs is a global problem from which no society is immune (Castiglioni et al., 2006; Drug Abuse, 2009). In the United States alone, approximately 40 million serious illnesses and injuries result from drug abuse annually. Drug abuse contributes to major social problems such as reckless driving, crime, and family violence, such as spousal or child abuse (Drug Abuse). According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), it is estimated that about 20.1 million Americans aged 12 or older (8.1% of the population) had consumed an illicit drug within a month of completing the survey. Approximately one-half of these people admitted to driving under the influence of drugs within the last month as well (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2009). Drug testing of individuals began in earnest in the late 1960s to discourage the use of illicit drugs. Positive drug tests were and are used to disqualify potential job applicants and, in some instances, terminate employment. One of the first groups subjected to mandatory drug testing were persons undergoing methadone treatment in federally mandated programs treating heroin and opiate addiction (Coombs et al., 1991). Methadone is a drug that eases withdrawal symptoms associated with opiate use. Individuals wanting access to methadone were required to undergo urine tests to show progress in overcoming their opiate addiction. During the Vietnam War, the US Department of Defense authorized urine testing of soldiers participating in

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