Estimation oF Substance Use Involvement: Theoretical Considerations and Empirical Findings

Abstract

The present study is concerned with the development of a substance use index to be used in the examination of substance use and related phenomena among adolescent substance users. The Substance Use Involvement Index (SUI) was constructed to provide a composite score that combines quantitative and qualitative aspects of substance use into a unitary score that reflects a user's substance involvement relative to a specific reference group. The SUI was used to examine the relationship between substance use involvement and predictor variables, (i.e., personal distress and self-concept) by first dividing the student population into six substance use involvement groups. The SUI was also used to examine differences in substance use levels as a function of sex, grade-in-school, self-reported grade point average, and race/ethnicity. Finally, the SUI was examined in relation to the qualitative aspects of multiple substance use and other use patterns.