The Hazardous Use Scale of psychoactive substances. A pilot study

Introduction
The quality of initial clinical diagnosis of psychoactive substance use disorders was improved in the ICD-11. The purpose of article is to present the psychometric properties of the Hazardous Substance Use Scale (HUS) measuring alcohol and other psychoactive substances use intensity, which was conceptualised in accordance with ICD-11.

Material and methods
The survey covered 508 adults who consume alcohol and other psychoactive substances. Respondents completed the HUS, AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test) and DUDIT (Drug Use Disorders Identification Test).

Results
Criterion validity was calculated by correlating the HUS results with the AUDIT (women: r = 0.91, p < 0.01; men: r = 0.82, p < 0.01) and the DUDIT tests (women: r = 0.52, p < 0.01; men: r = 0.47, p < 0.01). Reliability was calculated with the split-half method; the individual properties of the Cronbach’s α coefficient with the Spearman-Brown correction is 0.90 for women and 0.94 for men. In the final version, the HUS consists of 10 items.

Discussion
Analysis shows HUS high validity and reliability. Therefore HUS is a tool that can be used in broad clinical practice. The structure of this scale enables quick and accurate assessment of hazardous alcohol and other psychoactive substances use, including the suspicion of dependence.

Conclusions
The Hazardous Use Scale is a screening method that can be used by practitioners in contact with people who abuse alcohol and other psychoactive substances. It shows a better diagnostic rate for alcohol use than drug use.