DEVELOPMENT OF INSTRUMENTS FOR ASSESSING ADOLESCENT DRINKING

THE OVERALL GOAL OF THE RESEARCH IS TO DEVELOP A VALID, USEFUL INSTRUMENT FOR SCREENING ADOLESCENTS WITH DRINKING PROBLEMS. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT 10% TO 20% OF ADOLESCENTS IN AMERICA SUFFER FROM DRINKING PROBLEMS, AND THERE CURRENTLY EXISTS NO RELIABLE AND VALID SCREENING INSTRUMENT THAT WILL ENABLE PRACTITIONERS TO PROVIDE THEM WITH APPROPRIATE INTERVENTION AND TREATMENT SERVICES. PHASE I WILL INCLUDE A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE ON ADOLESCENT DRINKING PROBLEMS, THE PRELIMINARY CONSTRUCTION OF SCREENING INSTRUMENTS, AN ASSESSMENT OF THE TECHNICAL FEASIBILITY AND COMMERCIAL VIABILITY OF SUCH AN INSTRUMENT, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF A DETAILED RESEARCH PLAN FOR PHASE II. THUS, PHASE I WILL YIELD A SET OF PRELIMINARY INSTRUMENTS AND A DETAILED PLAN FOR THE FULL DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF A SCREENING INSTRUMENT(S). PHASE II WILL INCLUDE THE COLLECTION OF RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY DATA ON THE INSTRUMENT(S) AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF NORMS FOR USE WITH BOTH HIGH-RISK AND GENERAL POPULATIONS OF ADOLESCENTS. BECAUSE THERE CURRENTLY EXISTS NO SUCH SCREENING INSTRUMENT^EVEN THOUGH ITS DEVELOPMENT APPEARS FEASIBLE ^ AND BECAUSE THE POTENTIAL USER GROUP IS QUITE LARGE, IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THE LIKELIHOOD OF TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION AND COMMERCIAL APPLICATION IS CONSIDERABLE.