Measuring outcome in the treatment of cocaine abuse: the Drug Impairment Rating Scale for cocaine

Abstract

The Halikas-Crosby Drug Impairment Rating Scale for Cocaine (HAL DIRS-C) is designed to measure the adverse impact of cocaine use upon life functioning over the previous week. The HAL DIRS-C demonstrated excellent split-half and interrater reliability. Internal consistency of the HAL DIRS-C was shown to be high. All items correlated significantly with total score and loaded on a single factor. The HAL DIRS-C correlated significantly with self-reported cocaine use, craving for cocaine, and independent ratings of the severity of addiction. The HAL DIRS-C was found to be sensitive to clinical change across weekly administrations. The scale is brief, easy to administer, and both interviewer and client-friendly. Our results suggest that the HAL DIRS-C may be useful as a standardized measure of improvement or outcome in clinical research involving the treatment of cocaine abuse.