Exploring the Validity and Reliability of the Addiction Severity Index

The present investigation explored the reliability and validity of the Addiction Severity Index (ASI) among college students. Participants consisted of 67 undergraduate students, 18-20 years old. To examine validity properties of the ASI, the instrument was compared to the Core Alcohol and Drug Survey; an assessment of substance use among college students. To obtain ethnicity of participants, the Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure was employed. The Self-disclosure Index examined willingness to disclose personal information among participants. Instruments were administered using two methods: computer and interview. Results revealed the ASI contains face validity and partial content validity. Construct validity however was not established. Test retest reliability was confirmed, but alternative form reliability was not. These findings suggest that the ASI, as a measure of alcohol use and related problems, should be utilized with caution.