To address the first aim of this paper and evaluate Hypotheses 1 (ability to locate selected follow-up subjects) and 2 (estimation of future participation rate among located living subjects), data collected at two time points [baseline SSAGA and current status] were used. Subjects were categorized into three groups: Contacted, Deceased, and To Be Located (at the end of the 12-month study period). In addition to determining the membership and size of each group, we compared them on a range of baseline characteristics, including: demographics; self-reported health; alcohol use, consequences, and treatment; history of other substance dependence, and history of externalizing (antisocial personality disorder, ASPD) and internalizing diagnoses (major depressive episode, social phobia, agoraphobia, panic attacks, obsessive compulsive disorder, and/or post-traumatic stress disorder). In order to identify baseline characteristics associated with the likelihood of determining subject status at this pilot follow-up, three sets of comparisons were conducted: (1) between “Contacted”, “Deceased”, and “To Be Located”; (2) between “To Be Located” and “Located” (Contacted or Deceased); and (3) between “Interviewed” and “Not-Interviewed” located living subjects. Next, the proportion of located living subjects who were willing to participate in a subsequent follow-up study was determined.
