We partnered with the Addiction Policy Forum (APF) to develop two scales designed to assess substance use disorder (SUD) knowledge across the continuum of prevention, treatment, and recovery. Items were developed in consultation with APF’s Scientific Advisory Board and Patient and Family Panels. Content validity was assessed through expert review (n=15 experts with expertise in addiction from the fields of medicine, public health, neuroscience, and psychology) and additional indicators of validity and reliability were assessed with a large community sample (n=5455). The SUD Prevention Knowledge Scale includes 16 items measuring age-related risk factors, other risk factors, and protective factors for SUD. The SUD Knowledge Scale includes 16 items measuring SUD-related characteristics, treatment and recovery, and medications. The scales can be used to assess SUD knowledge and evaluate interventions aimed at improving SUD knowledge.
You can read more about the scales (read here), download the scales (download here), and read the article describing the development and esting of the scales (read here).

Earnshaw, V. A., Mousavi, M., Kelly, B., Zawislak, K., Fox, A. B., & Hulsey, J. (2026). Development and psychometric evaluation of two substance use disorder knowledge scales. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 282, 113095.