Alcohol and Drug Use Tests
The Mehrabian Alcohol and Drug Use scales are offered here primarily for student and academic researchers. Also, if the scales are to be used in clinical or commercial situations, it is strongly suggested that findings based on the present instruments be checked against additional data from alternative tests and interview materials.
Definitions and Background
The Mehrabian Alcohol Use and Drug Use scales are designed to provide
brief, though reliable and valid, assessments of extent of alcohol use
and drug use, respectively. Norms provided for the two scales can be
used to decide whether an individual's extent of alcohol use (or drug
use) is indicative of substance abuse or substance dependence.
The Alcohol Use Scale contains 11 items and the Drug Use Scale contains
7 items. Scale items are written in three different questionnaire
formats and items of the two scales are intermixed when presented to
subjects. The manual provides formulas for computing a total score for
each scale.
The Alcohol Use and Drug Use scales are intended primarily for
experimental use. In the event they are employed in clinical settings,
it is strongly advisable that findings based on the present instruments
be checked against additional data from alternative tests and interview
materials.
Sample Items
- I sometimes get into trouble with others because of my drug problem.
- I have had 8 or more drinks on some days.
Test Features
- Administration: the tests do not require a tester to be present
during testing; however, it is advisable to review the subject's answers
with him/her to insure accuracy; tests can be used with individuals or
groups
- Test format: questionnaires, 11 and 7 items, respectively
- Appropriate population: English fluency, ages 15 and older
- Time required for administration: approximately 10 minutes
- Scoring: hand scored; yield two separate total-scale scores for
Alcohol Use and Drug Use
- Manual: contains complete scales, scoring directions, norms
- Background literature: includes work on interrelationships of
Alcohol Use and Drug Use with other aspects of psychopathology
(Mehrabian, 1996).
- Possible uses for experimental research and hypothesis testing by students: For instance,
in research to investigate relationships of Alcohol Use and Drug Use with other aspects of
psychopathology (e.g., Depression and Trait Anxiety).
Reliability & Validity Data
Alpha internal consistency coefficients, reported by Mehrabian (2001), were .91 for the Alcohol Use Scale, .91 for the Drug Use Scale, and .79 for the Treatment for Depression Scale.
Convergent and construct validity data are reviewed in the manual (Mehrabian, 1994a). Relevant data also were reviewed by Mehrabian (2001, pp. 81-83).
References:
Mehrabian, A. (1994). Manual for the Alcohol and Drug Use Scales.
(Available from Albert Mehrabian, 1130 Alta Mesa Road, Monterey, CA, USA
93940).
Mehrabian, A. (1997). Relationships among measures of Trait Anxiety,
Depression, Panic, Somatization, Alcohol Use, and Drug Use in the
general population. Unpublished manuscript, UCLA.
Mehrabian, A. (2001). General relations among drug use, alcohol use, and major indexes
of psychopathology. Journal of Psychology,135, 71-86.