Alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine consumption in adolescents: hair analysis versus self-report. (4th May 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bertol, Elisabetta; Vaiano, Fabio; Boscolo-Berto, Rafael; Fioravanti, Alessia; Palumbo, Diego; Catalani, Valeria; Mari, Francesco; Patussi, Valentino; Serpelloni, Giovanni
• Is Part Of: American journal of drug and alcohol abuse. Volume 43:Number 3(2017:May)
• Page Start: 341
• Page End: 349
• Publication Date: 2017-05-04
• Subjects: Alcohol -- caffeine -- nicotine -- questionnaire -- adolescents -- hair analysis; Drug abuse -- Treatment -- Periodicals; Alcoholism -- Treatment -- Periodicals; Substance-abuse -- Treatment -- Periodicals; Alcoholism -- Periodicals; Substance-Related Disorders -- Periodicals; 616.86
• DOI: 10.1080/00952990.2016.1216556
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0095-2990

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Background : Clinical reliability of self-reported data for alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine consumptions is lacking, particularly in adolescents. Objectives : To compare a self-report questionnaire and hair analysis to assess the reliability and effectiveness of the self-report. Methods : A cross-sectional study on 14–15-year-old Italian students ( n = 874, 38% males, 62% females) was performed comparing self-reported data to hair analysis. The latter quantified hair concentrations of caffeine, nicotine, cotinine, ethyl glucuronide (EtG), and fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs) using mass spectrometry. Results : Concordance between self-report and hair testing ranged from good to poor across substances and levels of use: poor for heavy alcohol intake (EtG: k = 0.36, 20 positive cases by hair analysis, false negative by self-report, 2.3% of total sample; FAEE k = 0.31, 25 positive cases, 2.9% of total sample); fair to poor for active smokers ( k = 0.40, 125 positive cases, 14.3% of total sample); and moderate for caffeine ( k = 0.57, 56 positive cases, 6.4% of total sample). Conclusions : Epidemiological studies on alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine consumption in adolescents may benefit from the inclusion of toxicological analysis on hair samples to overcome the under-reporting phenomenon of questionnaires and detect more cases of problematic substance use.