An instrument to assess adolescent alcohol involvement

This study was the beginning of a validation process for the Presley Adolescent Alcohol Scale (PAAS). The instrument is intended for youth of ages 11 to 24 and involves six subscales: Quantity and Frequency of Use, School Functioning, Family Functioning, Social Functioning, Driving and Legal Functioning, Physical and Psychological Functioning. Items identify Use, Misuse, Problematic Use, and Dependency. Three groups of students in Southern Illinois were used (N = 216): high school students in grades 7 to 12 (N = 51), undergraduate students at Southern Illinois University (N = 129), and patients at an adolescent alcohol inpatient treatment center (N = 36). ANOVA showed a significant difference between these three groups (p < .0001). In general, results from the study supported initial validity and reliability for the PAAS.