People Who Underreported Marijuana Use Also Underreported Tobacco Use in Drug Surveys
Comparing self-reported tobacco use with biological testing in 627 survey respondents showed that underreporting of marijuana strongly predicted underreporting of tobacco, suggesting survey data on drug use may be less accurate than assumed.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Researchers compared self-reported tobacco use with saliva cotinine testing in 627 respondents from an epidemiological drug-use survey. While outright underreporting of tobacco was relatively rare, self-report sensitivity was below the 90% level established in prior reviews, even after adjusting for passive smoke exposure.
A key finding was that underreporting of marijuana use showed a strong association with underreporting of tobacco use. Race and ethnicity also predicted tobacco underreporting.
The study used Audio Computer-Assisted Self-Interview (ACASI) to minimize social desirability bias, and also tested hair, urine, and oral fluid for illicit drugs including marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and amphetamines.
Key Numbers
627 respondents via multistage sampling. Self-report sensitivity was below the 90% threshold from prior reviews. Marijuana underreporting strongly predicted tobacco underreporting. Biological tests included saliva (cotinine), hair, urine, and oral fluid.
How They Did This
Cross-sectional epidemiological study using multistage sampling of 627 respondents. Participants completed household surveys via Audio Computer-Assisted Self-Interview (ACASI) and provided saliva samples for cotinine testing. Hair, urine, and oral fluid were tested for illicit substances. Self-report sensitivity was calculated by comparing reported use against biological confirmation.
Why This Research Matters
If people who underreport marijuana use also underreport tobacco use, it suggests that drug survey data may systematically underestimate use in certain populations. This has implications for interpreting all cannabis research that relies on self-reported use data.
The Bigger Picture
This study touches on a fundamental challenge in cannabis research: most studies rely on self-reported use data. If underreporting is systematic and correlated across substances, it could bias findings about the health effects of cannabis, tobacco, and other drugs.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
The study cannot determine why respondents underreported. The single geographic sample may not generalize to other populations. Passive cotinine exposure complicates the comparison between self-report and biological testing. The study focused on tobacco reporting validity with cannabis as a predictor, not the reverse.
Questions This Raises
- ?How much does underreporting of cannabis use affect the conclusions of health research that relies on self-reported data?
- ?Would different survey methods reduce underreporting?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Self-report tobacco accuracy fell below the 90% threshold, and marijuana underreporting predicted tobacco underreporting
- Evidence Grade:
- Cross-sectional survey with biological validation. Provides useful methodological insight but is limited to a single sample and geographic area.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2005. Survey methodology has continued to evolve, though the fundamental challenge of self-report accuracy in drug research remains.
- Original Title:
- Tobacco-reporting validity in an epidemiological drug-use survey.
- Published In:
- Addictive behaviors, 30(1), 175-81 (2005)
- Authors:
- Fendrich, Michael, Mackesy-Amiti, Mary Ellen, Johnson, Timothy P, Hubbell, Amy, Wislar, Joseph S
- Database ID:
- RTHC-00187
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
How accurate are drug surveys?
This study found self-reported tobacco use accuracy was below 90% when compared against biological testing, and that patterns of underreporting were correlated across different substances. This suggests drug survey data may systematically underestimate use in some populations.
Why would someone underreport both marijuana and tobacco?
The study did not determine specific reasons, but suggests that factors driving underreporting (such as social stigma or desire to present oneself favorably) may apply broadly across substances rather than being substance-specific.
Read More on RethinkTHC
- cannabis-dependence-physical-psychological-addiction-science
- cannabis-perception-vs-evidence-gap
- cannabis-use-disorder-test
- cross-addiction-quit-weed-start-drinking
- is-weed-addictive
- is-weed-addictive-science
- quitting-weed-and-alcohol
- rehab-for-weed-addiction-necessary
- signs-of-cannabis-use-disorder
- weed-vape-pen-addiction
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-00187APA
Fendrich, Michael; Mackesy-Amiti, Mary Ellen; Johnson, Timothy P; Hubbell, Amy; Wislar, Joseph S. (2005). Tobacco-reporting validity in an epidemiological drug-use survey.. Addictive behaviors, 30(1), 175-81.
MLA
Fendrich, Michael, et al. "Tobacco-reporting validity in an epidemiological drug-use survey.." Addictive behaviors, 2005.
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Tobacco-reporting validity in an epidemiological drug-use su..." RTHC-00187. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/fendrich-2005-tobaccoreporting-validity-in-an
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.