WHAT IS SURPS SURVEY & DETAILS?
Here is a list of questions supposedly in this questionnaire as per publicly available references:
The Substance Use Risk Profile Scale
Woicik PA, Stewart SH, Pihl RO, Conrod PJ (2009). The Substance Use Risk Profile
Scale: a scale measuring traits linked to reinforcement-specific substance use
profiles. Addictive Behaviors, 34(12):1042-55.
2. https://maltbycentre.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/PASS_SURPS-Demographic-Questions_12.15.2021.pdf
Respondents indicate the extent to which they agree with the following statements by
selecting the appropriate response for each question from the following options:
strongly disagree, disagree, agree, strongly agree
1. I am content.*
2. I often don't think things through before I speak.
3. I would like to skydive.
4. I am happy.*
5. I often involve myself in situations that I later regret being involved in.
6. I enjoy new and exciting experiences even if they are unconventional.
7. I have faith that my future holds great promise.*
8. It's frightening to feel dizzy or faint.
9. I like doing things that frighten me a little.
10. It frightens me when I feel my heart beat change.
11. I usually act without stopping to think.
12. I would like to learn how to drive a motorcycle.
13. I feel proud of my accomplishments.*
14. I get scared when I'm too nervous.
15. Generally, I am an impulsive person.
16. I am interested in experience for its own sake even if it is illegal.
17. I feel that I'm a failure.
18. I get scared when I experience unusual body sensations.
19. I would enjoy hiking long distances in wild and uninhabited territory.
20. I feel pleasant.*
21. It scares me when I'm unable to focus on a task.
22. I feel I have to be manipulative to get what I want.
23. I am very enthusiastic about my future.*
H = Items 1, 4, 7, 13, 17, 20, 23
AS = Items 8, 10, 14, 18, 21
IMP = Items 2, 5, 11, 15, 22
SS = Items 3, 6, 9, 12, 16, 19
Asterisk (*) indicates reversed keyed item
Dr SSK Eyeperspective:
To wrap up this discussion, tools such as SURPS scoring system, though might be done with a constructive thought-process, could harm more than what one could perceive. Also, such surveys in general might not define the true nature of a child. The survey questions are standard questions, and people who get to know through their connections or other means could prepare ahead to answer appropriately to not be classified under any group. These kinds of surveys also tend to be time, place, and culture dependent to name a few. For example, a kid from Asia would certainly like to ride a motorbike as that happens to be the next step of transportation in those countries. Categorizing kids based on answers to these questions might not result in the desired outcome. Yes, some studies might support positive impact from these kinds of programs, but then it could be due to creating more awareness among the kids through additional programs, which could be done in the first place. As there are only four categories, and if the decision-makers believe that this kind of program assists in preventing substance abuse, then this program could be offered as a standard program to all the kids in the school. This direction would also not categorize any particular kid under any particular group based on a 23 questions survey. Most importantly, any kind of personal behavio(u)r is influenced not only by one's risk profile, but also by many other factors especially the environment that the individual is in. For that matter, here are some stats pertaining to opioid and marijuana addictions in adults, who might not have had anything to do with addiction prior to it. In the same way, many reference articles suggest social media could proliferate addiction in many forms and act as a gateway for other addictions.
Reference: https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/substance-use-in-older-adults-drugfacts
Paraphrasing from this article,
"
Opioid Pain Medicines
Persistent pain may be more complicated in older adults experiencing other health conditions. Up to 80% of patients with advanced cancer report pain, as well as 77% of heart disease patients, and up to 40% of outpatients 65 and older. Between 4-9% of adults age 65 or older use prescription opioid medications for pain relief. From 1995 to 2010, opioids prescribed for older adults during regular office visits increased by a factor of nine.
The U.S. population of adults 55 and older increased by about 6% between 2013-2015, yet the proportion of people in that age group seeking treatment for opioid use disorder increased nearly 54%.4 The proportion of older adults using heroin—an illicit opioid—more than doubled between 2013-2015,4 in part because some people misusing prescription opioids switch to this cheaper drug.
Marijuana
Nine percent of adults aged 50-64 reported past year marijuana use in 2015-2016, compared to 7.1% in 2012-2013. The use of cannabis in the past year by adults 65 years and older increased sharply from 0.4% in 2006 and 2007 to 2.9% in 2015 and 2016.22
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References:
1. https://pielytics.aioradar.com/2025/01/coffee-with-hai-addictions-substance.html2. https://pielytics.aioradar.com/2025/01/coffee-with-hai-surps-more-ii-short.html
3. https://pielytics.aioradar.com/2025/01/coffee-with-hai-surps-more-iii-surps.html
