Studying illicit substance exposure among urban adolescents using forensic science

Michael J Merten*, Joseph G Gryzwacz, Jarrad R Wagner, Amanda L Terrell, Tia C Claybrook and Jennifer N Becnel

There are critical challenges to measuring substance use exposure, particularly among adolescents, with major limitations to the most common methods of assessment – self-report and biomarker (urine, saliva) analysis. This study examines the use of wipe sampling as a measure of adolescent illicit substance exposure. Among low-income families, this study compared forensically analyzed wipe samples from 51 adolescents’ homes and cell phones with self-reported substance use to identify overlaps and discrepancies. There were major gaps between adolescents reporting any substance use in the past year and adolescents whose homes and/or cell phones tested positive for illicit substances via wipe sample analysis. This study builds upon previous adolescent substance use and exposure research, highlighting the profound limitations of self-reported use, and introducing wipe sampling as an effective measure of toxicant exposure. Wipe samples also provide a means to examine environmental contexts in new novel ways. 

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Published on: Dec 21, 2023 Pages: 28-31

Full Text PDF Full Text HTML DOI: 10.17352/atte.000015
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