Validated Screening Tools
The Screening and Assessment Tools Chart provides a comprehensive guide and links to evidence-based screening and assessment tools you can use with your patients from adolescence to adulthood. It is organized by substance type, patient age, and administration method to help you find the right tool for your practice.
- The Tobacco, Alcohol, Prescription medication, and other Substance Use (TAPS) Tool is validated for use with adults to generate a risk level for each substance class. It can be self-administered or conducted via clinician interview and combines screening and brief assessment of past 90-day problematic use into one tool.
- For validated online screening tools for adolescents, visit NIDAMED’s Screening Tools for Adolescent Substance Use. These tools will help you assess substance use disorder risks among adolescents 12-17 years old.
Resources for Screening
- Implementing Drug and Alcohol Screening in Primary Care. Also, please view the fact sheet to learn about how to implement drug and alcohol screening.
Screening for Substance Use
Review the latest science on screening for substance use and read about how a variety of clinicians have integrated screening into their practice settings, including which tools they use and useful considerations to get started.
Prevention
Engaging in prevention efforts may help reduce substance use and the negative effects associated with use.1,2 Learn more about different substance use prevention strategies such as:
- The Disposal of Unused Medicines
- The Principles of Substance Abuse Prevention for Early Childhood
- Preventing Drug Use Among Children and Adolescents
- Substance Misuse Prevention for Young Adults – Guide from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration with research findings, best practices, and more.
For patient information booklets, fact sheets, and resources on the effects of drugs on the brain and body, browse the For Your Patients page.
References
- Carney T, Myers B. Effectiveness of early interventions for substance-using adolescents: findings from a systematic review and meta-analysis. Subst Abus Treatment, Prev, Policy. 2012;7(25). doi:10.1186/1747-597X-7-25
- Hawkins, J.D.; Catalano, R.F.; and Arthur, M. Promoting science-based prevention in communities. Addictive Behaviors 90(5):1–26, 2002