The measurement of craving in cocaine patients using the Minnesota Cocaine Craving Scale.

Drug craving is an irresistible urge that compels drug-seeking behavior, and which often accounts for relapse among treated cocaine users. A cocaine craving scale that has proven reliable and practical in clinical treatment research with cocaine-using subjects is presented. It assesses intensity, frequency, and duration of this entirely subjective phenomenon. Data from 234 scales completed by 35 patients in treatment showed that craving for cocaine was of variable intensity, experienced relatively few times per day (zero to two), and of short duration (less than 20 minutes). Internal consistency among the three scales was robust, shown by a standardized item alpha of .826. The use of this scale should allow for each component of craving to be studied separately.