title: How to screen for problematic cannabis use in population surveys: an evaluation of the Cannabis Use Disorders Identification Test (CUDIT) in a Swiss sample of adolescents and young adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cannabis use is a growing challenge for public health, calling for adequate instruments to identify problematic consumption patterns. The Cannabis Use Disorders Identification Test (CUDIT) is a 10-item questionnaire used for screening cannabis abuse and dependency. The present study evaluated that screening instrument.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a representative population sample of 5,025 Swiss adolescents and young adults, 593 current cannabis users replied to the CUDIT. Internal consistency was examined by means of Cronbach's alpha and confirmatory factor analysis. In addition, the CUDIT was compared to accepted concepts of problematic cannabis use (e.g. using cannabis and driving). ROC analyses were used to test the CUDIT's discriminative ability and to determine an appropriate cut-off.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two items ('injuries' and 'hours being stoned') had loadings below 0.5 on the unidimensional construct and correlated lower than 0.4 with the total CUDIT score. All concepts of problematic cannabis use were related to CUDIT scores. An ideal cut-off between six and eight points was found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the CUDIT seems to be a promising instrument to identify problematic cannabis use, there is a need to revise some of its items.
authors.affiliation: Swiss Institute for the Prevention of Alcohol and Drug Problems, Lausanne, Switzerland. bannaheim@sfa-ispa.ch
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Annaheim
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rehm
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gmel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult