The drug use profile (DUP): an instrument for clinical and research evaluations for drug use patterns

A profile form, similar to that used by the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), was developed to portray overall patterns of drug usage. It is based upon data collected from 3984 respondents which were subsequently factor analyzed and transformed into standardized T scores. Once developed, the profile was examined for its ability to evaluate both individual and group drug use patterns. Results suggest that the profile is reliable and provides a quick portrayal of clinically important features of a person's drug practices. Mean drug use data can also be plotted on the same profile for specific subgroups. The profile may be further employed to determine the degree of drug use for a single person or a group of drug users, vis-a-vis the general population. Finally, potential uses for the instrument are discussed.