The identified experts were contacted via e-mail, asked to participate, and provided an Internet link to our web-based rating task. Those who responded (n = 7) were provided with a description of stigma and perceived stigma and the initial 12-item version of the PSAS adapted from Link et al. (1997). Raters then rated each item on two dimensions. First, they rated each item for fit, whether each item reflected a component of stigma as directed toward those with substance problems using a 4-point Likert-type rating scale ranging from 1 (not at all) to 4 (very much). Second, they rated each item in terms of overall quality on a 4-point Likert-type scale ranging from 1 (poor) to 4 (excellent).
