Screening of drug use in a teenage Brazilian sample using the Drug Use Screening Inventory (DUSI)

The Brazilian translation of the Drug Use Screening Inventory (DUSI) was ap plied to 213 Brazilian teenagers who were classified according to their alc ohol and/or drug dependence level (DSM-III-R) as: 71 nondrug users (Group 1 ), 71 with light/moderate dependence (Group 2) and 71 with severe dependenc e (Group 3). The DUSI was applied and the absolute density in each of 10 ar eas was calculated. The three groups presented statistically significant di fferences (p < .001) in the "substance use" area, with the following values (medians +/- interquartile range): Group 1: 0 +/- 7; Group 2: 20 +/- 33 an d Group 3: 80 +/- 33. The groups also presented significant differences in behavior pattern, social competency, family system, work adjustment. peer r elationships and leisure/recreation. Other differences detected among the g roups indicated an important relationship between drug use and school delay . A good Spearman rank correlation (0.86, p < .0001) was observed between C omposite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) diagnosis and DUSI, indi cating that this instrument can be useful in the screening of substance use among Brazilian teenagers. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd.