NCJ Number
205173
Journal
Journal of Addictive Diseases Volume: 23 Issue: 1 Dated: 2004 Pages: 29-38
Date Published
2004
Length
10 pages
Annotation
Since information on drug abuse by Icelandic adolescents is mostly based on self-reports, this study checked the validity of these reports by comparing them with the results of a concomitant screening for the targeted drugs and their metabolites in urine.
Abstract
The sample was composed of all persons between 15 and 24 years old (n=316) who sought or were admitted for treatment of drug or alcohol abuse or dependence at a single treatment facility from October 1998 to March 1999. Upon admission, all the subjects were interviewed by a staff doctor using a standardized questionnaire. The doctor asked the participants about their alcohol and drug consumption during the last 2 days, during the last 16 days, and during the last 2 months before admission. They were asked about their use of the following substances alone or in combination: alcohol, amphetamine, benzodiazepines, cannabis, cocaine, codeine, MDMA, morphine, and heroin. The questionnaire also obtained information on age, sex, and day and time of arrival. After the interview, the subjects were asked to provide voluntarily a urine sample for drug screening. All agreed to provide a urine sample within a few hours after their arrival for treatment. Self-reports of substance use were compared with urinalysis results. Seventy-three percent of the participants reported use of two or more substances. Those who used only one substance were primarily alcohol users. The study found that self-reports of drug abuse were valid in a majority of cases. There was no significant difference in the validity of self-reports between males and females. Significant differences were found in the validity of reports of amphetamine use between two age groups, i.e., 15-19 years old and 20-24 years old. 2 figures, 1 table, and 18 references