Use the following resources to learn more about the screening and assessment of substance use disorders.
Alcohol and Drug Abuse
Miller & Hersen (Eds.) (2006)
In Clinician's Handbook of Adult Behavioral Assessment
An overview of assessment instruments available for use in the substance abuse field, ranging from simple screening tools to comprehensive diagnostic inventories and instruments to guide treatment planning.
Assessing Alcohol Problems: A Guide for Clinicians and Researchers
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (2nd ed.) (2003)
Explains the critical issues involved when evaluating alcohol treatment and helps the user select the most appropriate instruments in the following domains: screening, diagnosis, assessment of drinking behavior, adolescent assessment, treatment planning, treatment and process assessment, and outcome evaluation.
Assessing Substance Use and Abuse Among Adolescents: A Guide for Out-of-School Time Program Practitioners (PDF - 154 KB)
Martin & Milot (2007)
Discusses the signs and symptoms of alcohol and drug use and provides a list of questions to assess substance use among youth.
Drug Addiction and Alcohol Abuse Self Assessment
Support Systems Homes, Inc. (2005)
Twelve questions about drug or alcohol use to help determine possible addiction or abuse.
How to Identify Drugs of Abuse
Narconon of Georgia (2002)
Includes signs of abuse for opiates, cocaine, crack, amphetamines, marijuana, depressants, alcohol, and others.
Identifying and Helping Patients With Co-Occurring Substance Use and Mental Disorders: A Guide for Primary Care Providers
Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (2006)
Explores the relationship between co-occurring substance use and mental disorders, including the identification of patients with co-occurring disorders and providing or obtaining appropriate treatment for such disorders. (PDF - 117 KB)
Identifying Trauma and Substance Abuse in Adolescents (PDF - 708 KB)
Adolescent Traumatic Stress and Substance Abuse Treatment Center (2005)
Discusses signs and symptoms of trauma and substance abuse in adolescents.
Screening and Assessing Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders Among Youth in the Juvenile Justice System: A Resource Guide for Practitioners (PDF - 1830 KB)
National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice (2004)
A synthesis of information on more than 50 instruments that can be used to screen and assess youth for mental health and substance use disorders at various stages of the juvenile justice process. Includes guidelines for selecting instruments and best practice recommendations for diverse settings and situations.
Substance Abuse Assessment Instruments for Women: Literature Review (PDF - 237 KB)
Children and Family Research Center (2002)
Reviews evaluation studies of drug abuse instruments and their relevance for women.
Substance Abuse During Pregnancy: Guidelines for Screening (PDF - 672 KB)
Washington State Department of Health (2008)
Improves provider ability to effectively screen and identify pregnant women with substance use/abuse issues, provides guidelines for screening and follow-up, sample screening tools, recommendations related to drug testing of pregnant women and newborns, and referral resource numbers.