Alcohol Use Inventory

The Alcohol Use Inventory (AUI; Pearson Assessments, www.pearsonassessments.com/tests/aui.htm) was designed to assess the nature of and problems associated with alcohol use. The AUI is a 228-item self-report inventory that comprises 24 scales, including 17 primary scales, 6 second-order factor skills, and 1 general alcohol involvement scale. These scales provide a basis for describing the multiple dimensions of alcohol use in individuals 16 years of age or older who drink to some extent. It describes the different ways in which individuals use alcohol, such as the benefits they derive from their alcohol use, their style of alcohol use, consequences associated with their use of alcohol, and their degree of concern and acknowledgment of alcohol use.

The AUI is appropriate for individuals who can read at a sixth-grade level or higher. Although the AUI was designed as a self-report inventory, the inventory items can be read to an individual if the respondent cannot read at that level. When taking the AUI, the respondent should be sober and preferably should have been sober for the 8 hours prior to the test. The approximate time for administration is 35–60 minutes. Administration can take longer if the inventory items need to be read to the respondent or if the respondent ponders over items. The AUI can be administered by pencil and paper or by computer. A variety of scoring options are available. The AUI can be scored through computer software, by hand, or through a mail-in scoring service.

Combinations of the previously mentioned scale scores can be used to derive scores and develop typologies and profiles that indicate ways to relate to a client and help with treatment planning. There are some exceptions, however, to the use of the AUI for alcoholrelated problems and treatment programs. Even though the AUI was designed to assess the drinking styles of problem drinkers, caution is suggested in using the AUI with individuals convicted of driving under the influence (DUI). It was found that individuals convicted of DUI tended to have lower profiles and that their results should be interpreted with caution. The AUI was also reported as not appropriate for pre- and posttreatment administration because of the historical nature of the test items. However, the AUI would be appropriate as a baseline measure for a program based on outcomes measurement.

The AUI has a sound basis in research and theory. It was normed on 1,200 individuals who had been admitted to a public in-patient alcohol treatment program. The AUI also demonstrated good reliability and presented evidence of validity. Suggested users of the AUI include psychologists, social workers, chemical dependency counselors, and physicians who work with individuals with alcohol problems. They may find the AUI a useful assessment tool for obtaining information concerning multiple dimensions of problem drinking in their clients.