Opioid Protective Behavioral Strategies Scale (OPBSS)
Measures the frequency with which individuals who use opioids employ protective behavioral strategies to prevent risky use and reduce serious harm.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Opioid Protective Behavioral Strategies Scale (OPBSS) was developed by Margo C. Hurlocker, Matthew R. Pearson (2025). It is designed to measure Opioid Protective Behavioral Strategies. The scale is intended for use with Adults (18 years and older) who use opioids.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 46 items organized into 2 factors/subscales: Controlled Opioid Use, Serious Harm Reduction.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Controlled Opioid Use | 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31 | 31 |
| Serious Harm Reduction | 32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39,40,41,42,43,44,45,46 | 15 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Never, 2 = Rarely, 3 = Occasionally, 4 = Sometimes, 5 = Usually, 6 = Always.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 46 to 276. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low use of protective behavioral strategies: 46 – 122
- Moderate use of protective behavioral strategies: 123 – 199
- High use of protective behavioral strategies: 200 – 276
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of High internal consistency; test-retest reliability supported after 1 month (.40 < ICCs < .64).
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.