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Drug and Alcohol Use – Problem Behavior Frequency Scale
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About Drug and Alcohol Use – Problem Behavior Frequency Scale
Scale Name
Drug and Alcohol Use – Problem Behavior Frequency Scale
Author Details
Multisite Violence Prevention Project (2004), adapted from Farrell, Kung, White, & Valois (2000) and Kandel (1975)
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The Drug and Alcohol Use – Problem Behavior Frequency Scale, developed by the Multisite Violence Prevention Project (MVPP) in 2004 and adapted from Farrell, Kung, White, & Valois (2000) and Kandel (1975), is a self-report questionnaire designed to measure the frequency of drug and alcohol use in the past month among middle school students in grades 6-8 (ages 11-14). Published in American Journal of Preventive Medicine (MVPP, 2004), the scale assesses substance use behaviors, such as alcohol consumption and marijuana use, within the context of problem behavior theory, which links substance use to other delinquent acts (Jessor & Jessor, 1977). The MVPP used this scale to evaluate violence prevention interventions across multiple urban sites, focusing on high-risk youth.
The scale comprises 4 items rated on a 6-point frequency scale (1 = “never” to 6 = “20 or more times” in the past 30 days), assessing specific substance use behaviors (e.g., “How many times in the past month have you drunk alcohol?” or “How many times in the past month have you used marijuana?”). Scores are summed (range: 4-24), with higher scores indicating greater substance use frequency. Validated in diverse urban middle school samples, it is used to monitor substance use prevalence, evaluate intervention outcomes, and identify risk profiles.
Psychologists, educators, and public health researchers use the scale to assess substance use, inform school-based interventions, and study correlates of problem behaviors. Its high internal consistency and brevity are strengths, though its English-only availability and specific age focus may limit broader use.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Obtain a copy of the scale from primary sources, such as MVPP (2004) in American Journal of Preventive Medicine (Vol. 26, pp. 7-14) or 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), ensuring ethical use permissions.
- Explain the purpose to respondents, noting that it assesses recent substance use to support healthier behaviors, emphasizing anonymity and using age-appropriate, non-judgmental language.
- Provide instructions, asking students to rate the frequency of their drug and alcohol use in the past 30 days, using the 6-point scale.
- Approximate time for completion is 2-3 minutes, given its concise 4-item format.
- Administer in a classroom or research setting, using paper or digital formats, ensuring a private environment to promote honest responses. Oral administration may be used for students with reading difficulties.
Reliability and Validity
The Drug and Alcohol Use – Problem Behavior Frequency Scale demonstrates strong psychometric properties, as reported in MVPP (2004). Internal consistency is high, with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.84, indicating good item cohesion for a brief 4-item scale. Test-retest reliability is not reported, but stability is inferred to be moderate based on similar substance use measures (r ≈ 0.60-0.80 over weeks).
Convergent validity is supported by correlations with related constructs, such as delinquency (r ≈ 0.30-0.50) and peer substance use, consistent with problem behavior theory. Discriminant validity is inferred from weaker correlations with unrelated constructs, like academic performance (r < 0.30). Criterion validity is demonstrated by its ability to detect changes in substance use post-intervention and predict risk behaviors in MVPP studies. Factor analyses are not detailed, but the scale’s unidimensional structure aligns with substance use constructs, supporting construct validity. The high reliability makes it robust, though it should be paired with multi-informant data or broader measures like the Youth Risk Behavior Survey for comprehensive assessment.
Available Versions
06-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 – Problem Behavior Frequency Scale measure?
It measures the frequency of drug and alcohol use in the past month.
Who can use the scale?
Psychologists, educators, and researchers studying middle school students.
How long does the scale take to complete?
It takes about 2-3 minutes.
Is the scale specific to certain groups?
It targets grades 6-8 in urban settings.
Can the scale inform interventions?
Yes, it supports prevention programs with high reliability (α = 0.84).
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