The analysis focused on DSM-IV dependence criteria because dependence symptoms reflect physical and/or psychological dependence and a pattern of compulsive use, which are directly related to the extent of substance use, while abuse symptoms (role interference, hazardous use, legal problems, relationship problems) concern social or legal consequences of drug use behaviors, which are more likely to be affected and biased by a user’s age and environmental factors (Babor and Caetano, 2008). DSM-IV and the developing DSM-5 comprise the most widely used criteria for health statistics in the United States (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2000); questions of dependence criteria, thus, are ideal candidates for brief screeners as clinicians already use the criteria and would not need to learn a new set of questions and rules.
