SSAND: DR: Drugs
safe This is a fully diagnostic section that assesses Drug Abuse and Drug Dependence, using the DSM-III-R, DSM-IV, Feighner, and ICD-10 diagnostic systems. The Drug section is similar in form and content to the Tobacco, Alcohol, and Marijuana sections.
The interviewer starts by handing R a list of drugs. The interviewer should circle all drugs that R has used on card G2 and ask if R used any other drugs not on the list. If R denies ever taking drugs excepted as prescribed, the interviewer should verify the negative by asking, “So you have never used cocaine or crack? Or stimulants, like speed, uppers, or amphetamines? Or sedatives, like downers, barbiturates, or sleeping pills? Or have you tried anything else that was not on this page?” until each drug class has been verified as a definite “NO”. The interviewer should carefully check all the drugs that R has used. Using Card G1 as a reference, R may focus on illegal substances and not mention that s/he has abused prescription drugs unless specifically queried. It is especially important to check for prescription drug abuse if R reported use in the Medical History section of the SSAGA. If R has not used any illicit drugs or misused any prescription drugs, then s/he skips to the next section.
If R has used any drug (other than as prescribed), the interviewer proceeds to G1 and asks for the number of times R used drugs within each drug class. The questions throughout the section are also asked about each class of drug, not each specific drug.
The section allows for coding a total of five classes of drugs: cocaine, stimulants, sedatives, opiates, and the class of drugs used most from those remaining (i.e., PCP, hallucinogens, solvents, combination drugs, or drugs that don’t fit in any other category). The specific name or type of drug that will be coded in this fifth column should be recorded in Box G1. If R reports using equal amounts of drugs in more than one of these “other” classes, the interviewer should ask about the class of drugs that caused the most problems.
Generally, questions in the Drug section are asked in rows – meaning that if more than one drug class is being coded, the interviewer asks the question for each coded drug class before moving on to the next question. So, for example:
IVR: “Have you ever wanted to cut down or tried to cut down on cocaine but found that you couldn’t?”
R: “Yes.”
IVR: “Did this happen with stimulants?”
R: “Yes.”
IVR: “Did this happen with opiates?”
R: “No.”
(Some respondents may need the stem question repeated more often.)
Exceptions to this general pattern include questions G11, G18, and questions that have follow-up “IF YES, ASK:” subquestions. These exceptions should be coded by column, i.e., the questions and subquestions are completed for one drug class before continuing on to the next column.
HAND R CARD DR.
Have you ever used any of these drugs to feel good or high, or to feel more
active or alert? Or did you use any prescription drugs when they were not
prescribed, or more than prescribed? Spec: Do not count any over the counter (OTC) medications. Also, “prescribed” refers to medications prescribed for R. If R took someone else’s prescription when it was not prescribed for R, it counts here. However, do not count: (1) using a prescription drug as needed after the period for which it was prescribed, or (2) taking someone else’s prescription meds if R has the identical prescription and R is taking the medication as prescribed.
IF ALL NO, SKIP TO NEXT SECTION. OTHERS CONTINUE FOR EACH DRUG CODED 5.
Spec: “Number of times” really means the number ofdifferent occasions. If R took 10 pills in one night, count as one time. If R took one pill on ten different days, count as ten times. Record the total number of times R used drugs in a particular class. For example, if R used Valium ten times and Librium ten times, then s/he has used sedatives twenty times. Code T’s and Blues as Opiates. Code Ecstasy as Other. Code crank as stimulants (amphetamines). For prescription drugs, count the number of times they were used when not prescribed or more than prescribed. Even though there is only a single line to record the number of times, interviewers can code numbers containing up to 4 digits, or, in other words, a maximum of 9999 times.
DR1BAGEONS_1. How old were you the first time you used
(DRUG)? AGE ONSET DR1BAGEREC_1. How old were you the last time you used
(DRUG)? AGE REC DR1BAGEONS_2. How old were you the first time you used
(DRUG)? AGE ONSET DR1BAGEREC_2. How old were you the last time you used
(DRUG)? AGE REC DR1BAGEONS_3. How old were you the first time you used
(DRUG)? AGE ONSET DR1BAGEREC_3. How old were you the last time you used
(DRUG)? AGE REC DR1BAGEONS_4. How old were you the first time you used
(DRUG)? AGE ONSET DR1BAGEREC_4. How old were you the last time you used
(DRUG)? AGE REC DR1BAGEONS_5. How old were you the first time you used
(DRUG)? AGE ONSET DR1BAGEREC_5. How old were you the last time you used
(DRUG)? AGE REC DR1BAGEONS_6. How old were you the first time you used
(DRUG)? AGE ONSET DR1BAGEREC_6. How old were you the last time you used
(DRUG)? AGE REC DR1BAGEONS_7. How old were you the first time you used
(DRUG)? AGE ONSET DR1BAGEREC_7. How old were you the last time you used
(DRUG)? AGE REC DR1BAGEONS_8. How old were you the first time you used
(DRUG)? AGE ONSET DR1BAGEREC_8. How old were you the last time you used
(DRUG)? AGE REC IF NEVER USED COCAINE, SKIP TO DR1F
Spec: This question refers to the hypothesized “kindling” effect of cocaine. It is asked of anyone who ever used cocaine.
Spec: Do not count using alcohol and cocaine together if there was no intent for the alcohol to help R feel better when coming down.
IF NO, SKIP TO DR1H.
Spec: Count any needle-sharing – even if R claims s/he used the needle first.
Spec: “Favorite” is left up to R to decide. It is not necessarily the drug used most, but the one R enjoyed the most. Marijuana can be included here, but not alcohol. If R claims to have no favorite drug, record “NONE” and the editor will code “00”.
IF R USED ONLY 1 DRUG, SKIP TO DR2_num.
Spec: The editor can only code two drugs per occasion (1a and 1b used together; 2a and 2b used together). “Together” is generally defined as using at the same time or within two hours of each other. This may include prescription drugs and illicit drugs, but alcohol and marijuana do not count.
IF NO DRUG USED 11 OR MORE TIMES, SKIP TO DEPRESSION SECTION. IF USED COCAINE, STIMULANTS, SEDATIVES, AND/OR OPIATES 11 OR MORE TIMES CONTINUE. IF R USED OTHER DRUGS 11 OR MORE TIMES, CONTINUE WITH ONE USED MOST AND CODE. IF ‘OTHER’ DRUG, CONTINUE TO DR2_SPECIFY.
Spec: Note the longest period R used (DRUG) “almost every day”. SSAGA-II’s standard definition of “almost every day” is at least 4 days out of 7. Code in units that gives the most accuracy, e.g., 1 year 2 months = 14 months.
Spec: “A whole day” is defined as most waking hours in a twenty-four hour period.
Was there ever a period of a month or more when a great deal of your time was
spent using (DRUG), getting (DRUG), or getting over its effects? Have you often wanted to stop or cut down on (DRUG)? Did you ever need larger amounts of (DRUG) to get an effect or find that you
could no longer get high on the amount you used to use? Have you ever given up or greatly reduced important activities while using
(DRUG), like sports, work, or associating with friends or relatives? Have you often used (DRUG) more days or in larger amounts than you intended
to? People who stop, cut down, or go without drugs after
using drugs steadily for some time may not feel well. These feelings are more intense
and can last longer than the usual hangover. When you stopped, cut down, or went without
(DRUG), did you ever experience any of the following problems for most of the day for 2
days or longer? (NO = 1, YES = 5) ASK DR11A
–F ONE COLUMN AT A TIME. REPEAT STEM OFTEN.Spec: This question assesses withdrawal symptoms. Stress “for 2 days or longer.” Because not all withdrawal symptoms are common among all classes of drugs, coding spaces are deliberately missing for symptoms that cannot apply to a particular drug. This question is to be completed by column, asking about one drug class completely (G11A-F) before moving on to the next class.
Did you continue to use (DRUG) knowing it caused health problems?
IF NO, SKIP TO DR12c. Spec: “Any problem” refers only to the problems mentioned in DR13A.
Spec: Refers to hallucinations caused by drugs when it was not the expected effect of the drug. For hallucinogens, add the phrase “other than desired effects of the drug” and do not count hallucinations if they were expected – instead, only count “bad trips”.
IF ALL ARE CODED 1, SKIP TO DR19. OTHERS CONTINUE.
Did you continue to use (DRUG) after you knew it caused any of these
problems? COC Spec: The interviewer should ensure that R understands that recency is the last time any problem occurred – not the last time a problem occurred 3+ times.
OP OTH