Issues in Measuring Adolescent Substance Use

• In Event: Issues and Advances in Measurement and Design

Abstract

While adolescent substance use has declined in the past several decades, just how much is unknown, as the extent of adolescent substance use varies between studies. This is likely due in part to the various ways substance abuse is measured and statistical models used. This is a concern, as varying findings make it difficult to use evidence-based research to inform policy and programming. To help shed some light on this issue, this study used data from the Arizona Youth Survey, which includes a sample of Arizona middle and high school students. The study used three criminological perspectives (social learning, social bonds, and opportunity) to predict adolescent substance using several measures of the dependent variable, including a dichotomous measure, a scale, and poly-substance use. Additionally, this study used zero-inflated models to determine if there was a difference in predictors for susceptibility and severity of substance use. The study found that measurement and modeling does influence the effect of the predictors on substance use, and these also differ according to which substance is examined. In the future, scholars should work on creating a standardized measure for measuring adolescent substance use to help provide clarity to the findings.

Author

• Natasha Pusch, Texas Tech University