Table 1.

Key Constructs and Derived Scores of the LSUR and LSUR-12 and their Operationalizations

The Lifetime Substance Use Recall (LSUR) Instrument
Ages at onset of nicotine use, alcohol use, cannabis use, and other druga use	Subjects are asked both their age and the year when they: (1) first used each substance, (2) began using each substance on a weekly basis, and (3) began using each substance on a daily basis
Lifetime nicotine dose	For each year since first use, subjects report: (1) the average number of days of smoking per month, and (2) the average number of cigarettes/cigarsb per day of smoking. These are multiplied for a yearly dose, and yearly scores are summed for a lifetime dose.c
Lifetime alcohol dose	For each year since first use, subjects report: (1) the average number of days of drinking per month, and (2) the average number of standard drinksd per day of drinking. These are multiplied for a yearly dose, and yearly scores are summed for a lifetime dose.c
Lifetime cannabis dosee	For each year since first use, subjects report: (1) the average number of days of smoking per month, and (2) the average number of joint-equivalentsf per day of smoking. These are multiplied for a yearly dose, and yearly scores are summed for a lifetime dose.c
Alcohol-related problem behaviors	Subjects are asked the number of: (1) fights or heated arguments while drinking, (2) fights or heated arguments about alcohol, (3) times having trouble with the law while drinking or because of alcohol, (4) black-outs, and (5) attempts at cutting back. These are summed.
Cannabis-related problem behaviorse	Subjects are asked the number of: (1) fights or heated arguments while smoking, (2) fights or heated arguments about cannabis, (3) times having trouble with the law related to cannabis, and (4) attempts at cutting back. These are summed.
The Longitudinal Substance Use Recall for 12 Weeks (LSUR-12) Instrument
Past 12-week nicotine dose	For each of the past 12 weeks, subjects report: (1) the number of days of smoking, and (2) the average number of cigarettes/cigarsb per day of smoking. These are multiplied for a weekly dose, and weekly scores are summed for a past 12-week dose.
Past 12-week alcohol dose	For each of the past 12 weeks, subjects report: (1) the number of days of drinking, and (2) the average number of standard drinksd per day of drinking. These are multiplied for a weekly dose, and weekly scores are summed for a past 12-week dose.
Past 12-week cannabis dosee	For each of the past 12 weeks, subjects report: (1) the number of days of smoking, and (2) the average number of joint-equivalentsf per day of smoking. These are multiplied for a weekly dose, and weekly scores are summed for a past 12-week dose.

^aOther drugs are examined individually, not as an “other drug” category.

^bFor nicotine, the unit of measurement is determined by asking participants how they typically consume this substance (e.g., cigarettes, cigars, other).

^cIn calculating the initial year of use and the current year of use, the number of months of use are taken into account.

^dAlcohol is measured in standard drink units (12 oz beer = 5 oz wine = 1.5 oz liquor).

^eLifetime dose of the other drug, other drug-related problem behaviors, and past 12-week other drug dose are calculated in the same manner.

^fCannabis consumption is measured in joint-equivalents. Joints are considered approximately the size of a cigarette.