Concordance of self-reported drug use and saliva drug tests in a sample of emergency department patients. (March 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Macdonald, Scott; Cherpitel, Cheryl J.; Stockwell, Tim; Martin, Gina; Ishiguro, Sonya; Vallance, Kate; Brubacher, Jeff
• Is Part Of: Journal of substance use. Volume 19:Number 1/2(2014:Feb./Apr.)
• Page Start: 147
• Page End: 151
• Publication Date: 2014-03
• Subjects: Substance abuse -- Periodicals; Medication abuse -- Periodicals; 362.2905
• DOI: 10.3109/14659891.2012.760010
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1465-9891

Abstract

<abstract> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>The purpose of this study was to assess the concordance of self-reports of cannabis, cocaine and amphetamines usage, with a saliva point-of-collection drug test, the DrugWipe 5+, in an emergency department (ED) setting. <italic>Methods:</italic> A random sample of people admitted to either of two emergency departments at hospitals in British Columbia, Canada were asked to participate in an interview on their substance use and provide a saliva test for the detection of drugs. <italic>Analyses:</italic> Concordance of self-reports and drug tests were calculated. Prior to DrugWipe 5+, sensitivity and specificity estimates were compared against a gold standard of mass spectrometry and chromatography (MS/GC). This was used as a basis to assess the truthfulness of self-reports for each drug. <italic>Results:</italic> Of the 1584 patients approached, 1190 agreed to participate, which is a response rate of 75.1%. For cannabis, among those who acknowledged use, only 21.1% had a positive test and 2.1% of those who reported no use had a positive test. For cocaine and amphetamines respectively, 50.0% and 57.1% tested positive among those reporting use, while 2.1% and 1.3%, respectively, reported no use and tested positive. Self-reports of cannabis and amphetamines use appear more truthful than self-reports of cocaine use.</p> </abstract>