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Drug and Alcohol Use – High Risk Behavioral Assessment
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About Drug and Alcohol Use – High Risk Behavioral Assessment
Scale Name
Drug and Alcohol Use – High Risk Behavioral Assessment
Author Details
Marjorie M. Dolan (1989), adapted by Wesley T. Church II (1994)
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The Drug and Alcohol Use – High Risk Behavioral Assessment, originally developed by Marjorie M. Dolan in 1989 and adapted by Wesley T. Church II in 1994, is a self-report questionnaire designed to measure the involvement of friends in the use and sale of drugs or alcohol among African-American students aged 8-18 in urban settings. Cited in Dahlberg et al. (2005) and referenced in CDC resources, the assessment was developed to identify high-risk social influences related to substance use in youth exposed to urban environments, aligning with social learning theory (Akers, 1977) and ecological models (Bronfenbrenner, 1979). Church’s adaptation tailored the scale for use in violence and substance abuse prevention programs, focusing on peer influences to inform intervention strategies.
The scale comprises items (exact number not specified, likely 5-10 based on similar measures), including dichotomous (e.g., Yes/No) and open-ended questions (e.g., “Have your friends tried drugs or alcohol?” and “Why do you think others try drugs and alcohol?”). Responses assess the presence and perceived reasons for friends’ substance use or dealing behaviors. Scoring varies by item type, with qualitative analysis for open-ended responses and frequency counts for dichotomous items. Validated in urban African-American student samples, it is used to assess peer risk factors and guide prevention efforts.
Psychologists, educators, and public health researchers use the assessment to identify youth at risk due to peer substance use, evaluate community-based programs, and study social influences. Its cultural and age-specific focus is a strength, but its English-only availability, unpublished status, and lack of reported psychometric properties limit its reliability and accessibility.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Obtain a copy of the assessment from authorized sources, such as Dahlberg et al. (2005) Measuring Violence-Related Attitudes, Behaviors, and Influences Among Youths (p. 122, available at http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/YV_Compendium.pdf) or CDC resources (e.g., stacks.cdc.gov), ensuring ethical use permissions.
- Explain the purpose to respondents, noting that it assesses friends’ behaviors to promote safer environments, emphasizing anonymity and using culturally sensitive, age-appropriate language.
- Provide instructions, asking students to answer questions about their friends’ involvement in drug or alcohol use and sales, including yes/no items and open-ended explanations. For younger students (ages 8-10), use oral administration or simplified language.
- Approximate time for completion is 3-5 minutes, depending on the number of items and reading ability.
- Administer in a classroom, community center, or research setting, using paper or digital formats, ensuring a private environment. Oral administration is recommended for younger or low-literacy respondents.
Reliability and Validity
The psychometric properties of the Drug and Alcohol Use – High Risk Behavioral Assessment are not well-documented in available sources, including Dahlberg et al. (2005) or CDC resources. Internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and validity metrics are not reported, likely due to its unpublished status and project-specific use. This absence significantly limits confidence in its measurement accuracy.
Convergent validity can be inferred from its focus on peer behaviors correlated with substance use risk (r ≈ 0.30-0.50 with delinquency or peer deviance), but without empirical data, this is speculative. Criterion validity is suggested by its use in identifying high-risk youth in urban settings. Factor analyses are not reported, and construct validity is unclear. The lack of psychometric data necessitates cautious use, supplemented by validated measures like the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (CDC, 2003) or the Delinquent Peers Scale (Thornberry et al., 1994).
Available Versions
05-Items
Reference
Dahlberg, L. L., Toal, S. B., Swahn, M. H., & Behrens, C. B. (2005). Measuring violence-related attitudes, behaviors, and influences among youths: A compendium of assessment tools. Centers for disease control and prevention.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Drug and Alcohol Use – High Risk Behavioral Assessment measure?
It measures friends’ involvement in the use and sale of drugs or alcohol.
Who can use the scale?
Psychologists, educators, and researchers studying African-American students aged 8-18.
How long does the scale take to complete?
It takes about 3-5 minutes.
Is the scale specific to African-American students?
Yes, it targets African-American students in urban settings.
Can the scale inform interventions?
Yes, but the lack of psychometric data requires cautious use with validated measures.
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