Reliability and Validity of Chinese Version of the Addiction Severity Index among Drug Users in the Community

ObjectiveTo assess the reliability and validity of a new Chinese version of the Addiction Severity Index (ASI-C) in drug users in the community.MethodsThree hundred and eighty-one drug users in the community in Chengdu, Sichuan province were recruited. They were interviewed with a questionnaire consisting of the ASI-C revised on the basis of the previous Chinese version and 38 were interviewed for the second time at an interval of 7 days to evaluate test-retest reliability.ResultsCronbach's α coefficients for the internal consistency of the scale varied from 0.49 to 0.86. Test-retest correlation coefficients ranged from 0.50 to 0.93. Criterion validity was found acceptable, as compared with the Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90).ConclusionThe ASI-C presented acceptable reliability and validity in a sample of drug users in the community.