The reliability of drug use data collected in the classroom: what is the problem, why does it matter and how should it be approached?

Abstract

Difficulties in collecting reliable data on drug use in the context of an exploratory trial of a drug prevention intervention have led to a consideration of the wider issues of the reliability of routinely collected data. A problem is identified, and although its magnitude cannot currently be described, its nature and possible significance are considered. In this methodological discussion, significant practical and ethical issues are explored, including some of the complexities inherent in conducting research on drug use in schools, along with the need to develop improved methods of study which address the specific challenges posed by the school environment. Implications for the development of effective drug prevention interventions in schools are also examined.

Prevalence and key covariates of non‐medical prescription opioid use among the general secondary student and adult populations in Ontario, Canada

“…school dropouts, Aboriginal people on reserve, correctional or other institutional or homeless populations) where NMPOU rates may possibly be higher. Self-reported drug use and mental health data are influenced by factors, such as ability to comprehend the questions, memory error, perceived stigma or social desirability bias, and confidence about anonymity and confidentiality, which may result in underreporting; however, existing data for both surveys suggest that response rates are consistently high across all items [71][72][73][74]. The overall response rates for both surveys examined are limited (65% for OSDUHS; 51% for CM), but above average compared with similar surveys.…”

Opportunities to use drugs and stages of drug involvement outside the United States: Evidence from the Republic of Chile

“…First, we note that there sometimes can be difficulties of measurement in the school survey context (e.g., see McCambridge and Strang, 2006), and that the study’s measure of exposure to drug opportunities and time to events (the youth’s age in years) is relatively coarse. A more fine-grained measure will be useful in future research (e.g., to differentiate very rapid transitions from alcohol or tobacco use to cannabis use, or to differentiate a cannabis exposure opportunity and the time of first use of cannabis at different times within the same year).…”

“…It is fortunate that drug exposure opportunities can be studied quite readily via relatively inexpensive school and community field surveys that often are mounted in advance of the selection of sites for drug prevention programs – perhaps more readily than actual drug use. Actual drug use is illegal and might not be reported with accuracy and completeness in these large-sample surveys unless special conditions prevail (e.g., see McCambridge and Strang, 2006). The recent experience of being offered a chance to try an illegal drug is not an illegal behavior or experience; it has been measured quite readily via simple standardized field survey items crafted by many different survey research groups in many different countries for many years (e.g., see Stenbacka et al, 1993; Delva et al, 1999; Dormitzer et al, 2004).…”

Assertive Outreach Strategies for Narrowing the Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment Gap: Implications for Research, Practice, and Policy

“…Screening for substance abuse is more complicated than for delinquent or aggressive behavior, arguably, given that delinquency and aggression are overtly observable whereas substance abuse tends to be more covert and is often kept hidden from parents, teachers, and other authority figures. see 133 As such, the use of “indirect” assessments may be warranted to identify adolescents exhibiting characteristics known to be risk factors for substance abuse. see 134 Such characteristics include academic problems and truancy, aggressive and delinquent behavior, depression, as well as personality traits consistent with high sensation-seeking, extroversion, and disinhibition 65,66,135–138…”