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Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1998;152:1040-1041.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

In response to "The Changing Pattern of Substance Abuse in Urban Adolescents"¹ in the March 1998 ARCHIVES, several points should be considered. The authors do not use any self-reported data, stating that it is their "experience that such historical self-reports are not totally accurate." However, without survey of the subjects, there are few conclusions to be made, and certainly no major conclusions regarding the pattern of substance abuse should be drawn based on these data.

First, there is no exclusion of patients who have been treated with or prescribed medications that would result in positive urine drug screening result. For example, patients taking prescription opiates or amphetamines for wholly legitimate indications may test positive for these substances. Ketamine, a PCP (phencyclidine) derivative, and doxylamine, an over-the-counter antihistamine, are associated with false-positive urine and gas chromatography test results for PCP, respectively.^2-3 It is logical that patients having required anesthetics such as . . . [Full Text of this Article]