Monitoring the Future Survey – 30-Day Use Scale (MTF-30)
Measures the frequency and quantity of tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drug use over the past 30 days.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Monitoring the Future Survey – 30-Day Use Scale (MTF-30) was developed by Johnston, L. D., O’Malley, P. M., & Bachman, J. G. (2001). It is designed to measure Substance Use Frequency. The scale is intended for use with Adolescents and young adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 12 items organized into 4 factors/subscales: Tobacco Use, Alcohol Use, Marijuana Use, Illicit Drug Use.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Tobacco Use | 1,2,3 | 3 |
| Alcohol Use | 4,5 | 2 |
| Marijuana Use | 6,7 | 2 |
| Illicit Drug Use | 8,9,10,11,12 | 5 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = 0 occasions, 2 = 1-2 occasions, 3 = 3-5 occasions, 4 = 6-9 occasions, 5 = 10-19 occasions, 6 = 20-39 occasions, 7 = 40 or more occasions.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 0 to 100. Interpretation guidelines:
- No reported use: 0 – 0
- Active substance use: 1 – 100
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Not reported.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.