This tool consists of frequency of use questions to identify risky substance use by adolescent patients. The accompanying resources assist clinicians in providing patient feedback and resources for follow-up.
BSTAD asks a single frequency question for past year use of the three substances most commonly used by adolescents: tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana. Patients who report using any of these three substances are then asked questions about additional substance use. For each substance, responses can be categorized into levels of risk. Each risk level maps onto suggested clinical actions, summarized on the results screen.
| BSTAD Response | Risk Category |
|---|---|
| 0 days | No Reported Use |
| 1 day | Lower Risk |
| 2+ days (alcohol or other drugs) and/or 6+ days (tobacco) | Higher Risk |
Tool Development and Validation:
Psychometric properties for the BSTAD tool were first described by Levy et al. in 2014.1 In a recent study (2023) by Levy and colleagues found a high agreement between BSTAD screening results and the criterion standard measure demonstrating additional psychometric validation.2 The findings from this research are consistent with similar research in adults and support the principle of frequency-based screening as a good mechanism for detecting adolescents at high risk for SUD. Patients who score above 0 (no reported use), but less than the cut offs for the “higher risk” group should be considered potentially within the “lower risk” group for substance use problems or SUD.
Developer's JSON Application Programming Interface Available Here. For additional information on how to use this feed and example code, use this form to talk with our development team.
1. Kelly, S. M., Gryczynski, J., Mitchell, S. G., Kirk, A., O’Grady, K. E., & Schwartz, R. P. (2014). Validity of brief screening instrument for adolescent tobacco, alcohol, and drug use. Pediatrics, 133(5), 819-826. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4006430
2. Levy S, Brogna M, Minegishi M, Subramaniam G, McCormack J, Kline M, Menzin E, Allende-Richter S, Fuller A, Lewis M, Collins J, Hubbard Z, Mitchell SG, Weiss R, Weitzman E. Assessment of Screening Tools to Identify Substance Use Disorders Among Adolescents. JAMA Netw Open. 2023 May 1;6(5):e2314422. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.14422. PMID: 37213103; PMCID: PMC10203888.
Intended use: This screening tool is meant to be used under a medical provider’s supervision and is not intended to guide self-assessment or take the place of a healthcare provider’s clinical judgment.
This tool may be administered by either the patient or the clinician. Please indicate the mode of administration:
