Validity of adolescent self report of substance use
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Date
2005
Authors
Williams, Robert J.
Nowatzki, Nadine R.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Taylor & Francis
Abstract
The validity of self-report of substance use was examined in 367 adolescents referred for a substance use
assessment between 1996 and 2000. Referrals came from a wide variety of sources, including
pediatricians, the courts, social services, as well as self-referred by their parents. Average age of the
sample was 15, 52% were male, and 82% were Caucasian. Adolescents were first asked about the details
of their substance use by a clinician using a structured interview with established reliability and validity
(Adolescent Drug and Alcohol Diagnosis). They were subsequently asked to provide a urine sample, a
requirement they were unaware of when being interviewed about their substance use. If the urine sample
was deemed valid by the laboratory technician it was analyzed by means of fluorescence polarization
immunoassay and paper chromatography. If positive screens were obtained for any substance, the sample
was subjected to gas chromatography/mass spectrometry for confirmation and quantification.
Biochemical test results were compared to self-report. Overall, 28% (96/338) of the self-reports were not
corroborated by urinalysis. Twenty-six percent (56/219) of adolescents who reported nonuse of a
substance had a positive urinalysis. More surprisingly, 34% (40/119) of adolescents reporting substance
use in the urinalysis detection window had a negative urinalysis. The present study found self-report of
substance use in adolescents to only have fair validity. It is recommended that biochemical corroboration
be routinely used for this population.
Description
Sherpa Romeo green journal. Permission to archive accepted author manuscript.
Keywords
Substance Use Youth , Urine Analysis , Urinalysis , Adolescent , Substance use; , Self-report , Validity
Citation
Williams, R. J. & Nowatzki, N. (2005). Validity of adolescent self report of substance use. Substance Use & Misuse, 40(3), 1-13. DOI: 10.1081/JA-200049327