Current Methods of Assessing Substance Use: A Review of Strengths, Problems, and Developments

Abstract

This article discusses various means of assessing and measuring substance use behaviors and describes the relative advantages and disadvantages of each of the measurement tools. Self-report instruments are the most convenient and widely used forms of substance use assessment. Self-report measures can be obtained through various modes of administration, including self-administration via paper-and-pencil questionnaires, computer assisted self-interviews or interactive voice recording, and through personal (interviewer-administered) interviews. The advantages and disadvantages of each of these modes of administration are discussed. Alternative assessment techniques, such as biological measurements, are also frequently used to measure substance use or to validate self-report measures of substance use. This article reviews the various available methods for validating self-report measures, highlighting self-report and biological testing techniques currently in use. It concludes by suggesting future avenues of research for improving upon current substance use measurement techniques.