Monitoring the Future Survey/Dependency Scale

Abstract

The Monitoring the Future Survey/Dependency Scale is a brief, self-report instrument designed to assess indicators of difficulty in reducing or ceasing the use of various substances. Developed by Johnston, O’Malley, and Bachman (2001) as part of the larger Monitoring the Future (MTF) study, this scale targets core behaviors associated with substance dependence, specifically focusing on unsuccessful attempts to quit or cut back on usage across six categories of drugs, including tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and other illicit substances. It is primarily utilized in large-scale epidemiological studies concerning adolescent and young adult populations in the United States.

Keywords

Substance abuse, substance dependence, drug use, adolescent health, self-report scale, Monitoring the Future, addiction, tobacco, alcohol, marijuana.

Authors

Johnston, L.D., O’Malley, P.M., & Bachman, J.G.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the Dependency Scale within the Monitoring the Future study framework is to track the prevalence and incidence of behaviors indicative of substance use disorders among secondary school students. Unlike clinical diagnostic instruments, this scale serves as an essential epidemiological tool to identify individuals who exhibit challenges related to control over their substance intake.

By focusing on past difficulties in quitting or reducing use, the scale captures a crucial marker of dependence liability across multiple substances. This data enables researchers and policymakers, particularly those at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), to monitor trends in problematic use over time within large cohorts of youth.

Construct

The scale measures an aspect of substance dependence defined operationally by the inability or difficulty to cease or reduce consumption despite the desire or attempt to do so. This construct aligns with specific criteria related to impaired control found in standard diagnostic manuals, although the scale itself functions as a screening or surveillance measure rather than a clinical diagnostic test.

It is fundamentally a measure of the perceived loss of control over substance use, reflecting the psychological and behavioral difficulties encountered when attempting cessation. The six distinct items allow for the assessment of dependence indicators specific to different drug classes, recognizing that dependency symptoms may manifest uniquely depending on the substance used.

Validity

As a key component of the long-running Monitoring the Future survey, the Dependency Scale benefits from established procedures ensuring high levels of internal and external validity typical of major national surveys. The validity of the dependency items is generally established through strong content validity, as the questions directly address behaviors defined as central to dependence syndrome, such as persistent difficulties in reduction efforts.

Furthermore, convergent validity is supported by numerous independent studies showing that scores on these items correlate positively with frequency and quantity of substance use, as well as with other established measures of drug problems and negative consequences associated with use among adolescent populations.

Reliability

Specific internal consistency reliability statistics (e.g., Cronbach’s alpha) for the six-item composite Dependency Scale are often reported in the technical documentation for the overall MTF survey, demonstrating acceptable levels of internal consistency for a brief, multi-item index used for epidemiological tracking. However, given the scale’s structure—six separate items addressing six different, heterogeneous substances—reliability is often assessed based on the stability and consistency of overall prevalence rates collected across successive annual administrations, a key indicator of reliability in large-scale psychometrics research.

Factor Analysis

While the six items address a single overarching construct (difficulty quitting/reducing use), factor analysis often reveals a multi-dimensional structure due to the inherent differences between the substances. Studies using similar dependency items across multiple drug classes typically suggest that these items load onto substance-specific factors (e.g., an alcohol factor, a tobacco factor) while simultaneously contributing to a broader general factor representing underlying dependency proneness.

The primary utility of the scale in the MTF context is often item-by-item analysis or summation into a simple index of ‘ever experienced difficulty quitting any substance,’ rather than strict adherence to a single latent factor model across all six items.

Instrument

Test Type: Epidemiological Self-Report Questionnaire.

Format: Six dichotomous (Yes/No) questions, each preceded by a “Never used” option, concerning past attempts to quit or reduce substance use.

Language Available: Primarily English (U.S.).

Population Group: Secondary school students (8th, 10th, and 12th graders) and young adults.

Age Group: Typically 13–18 years old for the in-school survey, extending into early adulthood for follow-up studies.

Population Details: Nationally representative samples of students attending public and private schools in the contiguous United States, using a highly controlled survey methodology.

Test Methodology: Anonymous, self-administered questionnaire conducted in classroom settings using standard psychometrics protocols to ensure confidentiality and minimize response bias.

Keywords

Epidemiology, drug dependence indicators, secondary schools, illicit drugs, longitudinal study, NIDA, self-control, quitting difficulty, substance use disorder.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: N/A

Affiliation Email addresses: [email protected]

Correspondence Address: Dr. Lloyd Johnston, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, 426 Thompson Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104-2321.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The Dependency Scale is part of the public domain data collected by the Monitoring the Future study, which is funded primarily by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Data and instrument details are generally accessible for academic research, though specific usage of the MTF name and data requires adherence to NIDA and University of Michigan guidelines.

The primary reference year for the scale’s documentation is 2001, coinciding with the publication of the foundational report by Johnston, O’Malley, and Bachman. The MTF survey itself began in 1975 and continues annually.

The instrument can be found on pages 34-35 & 38-40 of Core Measures Initiative Phase I Recommendations, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention. The original PDF can be downloaded here: http://vvv.dmhas.state.ct.us/sig/pdf/uconn/core_measures.pdf

Reference’s

• Johnston, L.D., O’Malley, P.M., & Bachman, J.G. (2001). Monitoring the Future national survey results on drug use, 1975-2001: Volume 1, Secondary School Students 2000 (NIH Publication NO. 01-4924) Bethesda, MD: National Institute on Drug Abuse.
• Core Measures Initiative Phase I Recommendations, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention.

Items of the Monitoring the Future Survey/Dependency Scale

Dependency Scale:

1. Was there ever a time in your life when you tried to quit using cigarettes or reduce your use and had difficulty doing so?
   • 8. Never used
   • 1. No
   • 2. Yes
2. Was there ever a time in your life when you tried to quit using alcohol or reduce your use and had difficulty doing so?
   • 8. Never used
   • 1. No
   • 2. Yes
3. Was there ever a time in your life when you tried to quit using marijuana or reduce your use and had difficulty doing so?
   • 8. Never used
   • 1. No
   • 2. Yes
4. Was there ever a time in your life when you tried to quit using cocaine (“crack,” powder, etc.) or reduce your use and had difficulty doing so?
   • 8. Never used
   • 1. No
   • 2. Yes
5. Was there ever a time in your life when you tried to quit using heroin or reduce your use and had difficulty doing so?
   • 8. Never used
   • 1. No
   • 2. Yes
6. Was there ever a time in your life when you tried to quit using any other illegal drugs or reduce your use and had difficulty doing so?
   • 8. Never used
   • 1. No
   • 2. Yes