Brief Description
The Urge to Use Scale (UUS) measures an individual’s craving to use in the past week. It is a modified version of the Penn Alcohol Craving Scale (PACS), which asks the same questions as the UUS but asks specifically about alcohol. Respondents rate how often they experience the urges listed (e.g., “How often have you thought about using or how good using would make you feel during this period?”) on a variety of scales which are scored “0” to “6.”
Assessment Administration Type
Self-report
Number of questions
5
Age Range for Administration
18+, though it may be appropriate with adolescents 16+
Recommended Frequency of Administration
Weekly
Summary of Scoring and Interpretations
The UUS contains 5 questions scored on a 7-point Likert scale with values from 0 (e.g., “None at all”) to 6 (e.g., “Strong urge and would have used if it were available.”). A total score is calculated by summing the item responses and ranges from 0 to 30; higher scores are associated with higher levels of urge to use. If the score is equal to or greater than 10, the result indicates a clinically significant urge to use.
Blueprint Adjustments
N/A
Clinical Considerations
Estimated completion time: 1-2 minutes
Craving is a core feature of substance use disorders (SUDs). Longitudinal studies demonstrate that craving is associated with proximal risk for substance use, and people with greater craving to external triggers (e.g., drug cues, stress) have worse SUD outcomes. Accordingly, the valid and reliable measurement of craving is essential for research and practice in SUDs.
Craving can be seen as a desire to experience the positive effects of alcohol or drugs, possibly triggered by some bodily sensations or thoughts. An urge can be seen as an impulse to satisfy a craving.
Citation
Flannery, B. A., Volpicelli, J. R., & Pettinati, H. M. (1999). Psychometric properties of the Penn Alcohol Craving Scale. Alcoholism, clinical and experimental research, 23(8), 1289–1295. - Note, the UUS is a modified version of the PACS.
Relevant Articles + Further Resources
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