Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT)
The Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) is a 10-item screening tool developed by the World Health Organization to assess alcohol consumption, drinking behaviors, and alcohol related problems. It helps identify individuals with hazardous or harmful drinking patterns and those at risk for alcohol use disorders. The AUDIT is widely used in primary care settings and has been validated across various genders and ethnic groups. A score of eight or more on the AUDIT is indicative of hazardous or harmful alcohol use.
Who Can Use
The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) is primarily designed for use by healthcare professionals in various settings, such as primary care, emergency departments, and addiction treatment centers. However, with proper instructions, it can also be self-administered or used by non-health professionals.
Where Can I Find this Assessment?
This assessment is available at: https://nida.nih.gov/sites/default/files/files/AUDIT.pdf.
Citations
Saunders, John B, Aasland, Olaf G, Babor, Thomas F, Grant, Marcus & Fuente, Juan Ramon de la. (1993). Development of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT : WHO Collaborative Project on Early Detection of Persons with Harmful Alcohol Consumption-II / J. B. Saunders … [et al.]. Addiction 1993 ; 88(6) : 791-804 https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/51167.
Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale (COWS)
The Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale is an 11-item scale designed to be administered by a clinician. This tool can be used in both inpatient and outpatient settings to reproducibly rate common signs and symptoms of opiate withdrawal and monitor these symptoms over time.
Who Can Use
This assessment can be used by clinicians.
Where Can I Find this Assessment?
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has a copy of the (COWS) that is available for download at: https://nida.nih.gov/sites/default/files/ClinicalOpiateWithdrawalScale.pdf.
Citations
Wesson, D. R., & Ling, W. (2003). The Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale (COWS). J Psychoactive Drugs, 35(2), 253–9.
CRAFFT
The CRAFFT assessment is a brief screening tool designed to identify substance use, substance-related riding/driving risk, and substance use disorders among adolescents aged 12-21. It consists of a series of questions that can be self-administered or conducted by a clinician. The tool is widely recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics for preventive care screenings. The latest version, CRAFFT 2.1 includes updates to address vaping and nicotine use.
Who Can Use
The tool is designed to be flexible and accessible, ensuring that adolescents receive appropriate screening for substance use. Therefore, the CRAFFT assessment can be administered by trained healthcare professionals, such as doctors, nurses, and mental health clinicians, in a confidential healthcare setting. The CRAFFT assessment can also be self-administered by the patient, either on paper or electronically, in a private space within the clinical office.
Where Can I Find this Assessment?
The CRAFFT questions are copyright protected by Boston Children’s Hospital. You may download a copy of the CRAFFT assessment by visiting this link: https://crafft.org/get-the-crafft/#repro.
Citations
Knight JR, et al. A new brief screen for adolescent substance abuse. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1999 Jun;153(6):591-6. PMID: 10357299.
Dhalla S, et al. A review of the psychometric properties of the CRAFFT instrument: 1999-2010. Curr Drug Abuse Rev. 2011 Mar 1;4(1):57-64. PMID: 21466499.
Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST)
The Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST) is a standardized self-report questionnaire designed to assess an individual’s lifetime history of drug use and related problems. It provides a quantitative index of the degree of consequences related to drug abuse, helping to identify potential drug abuse or dependence. The DAST can be administered in various settings and is available in different version, including the 10-item DAST-10. It is a valuable took for screening, clinical case finding, and treatment evaluation research.
Who Can Use
The DAST can be adminisistered by a clinician or an individual can complete the assessment on their own. The DAST is not a diagnostic tool but is used for screening and treatment evaluation.
Where Can I Find this Assessment?
The SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral to Treatment) Oregon website which is maintained by the Department of Family Medicine at Oregon Health and Science University has a copy that can be downloaded from: https://www.sbirtoregon.org/screening-forms/
Citations
Skinner HA (1982). The Drug Abuse Screening Test. Addictive Behavior. 7(4):363-371.
Yudko E, Lozhkina O, Fouts A (2007). A comprehensive review of the psychometric properties of the Drug Abuse Screening Test. J Subst Abuse Treatment. 32:189-198.
Michigan Alcohol Screening Test (MAST)
The Michigan Alcohol Screening Test (MAST) is widely used screening tool designed to assess alcohol use and identify potential alcohol-related problems. It consists of 25 yes-or-no questions that cover various aspects of drinking behavior and its consequences. The test is self-administered and scored based on the number of “yes” responses, with higher scores indicating a greater likelihood of alcohol dependence. There are also shorter versions of the MAST, such as the Brief MAST and the Short MAST which are used in different settings.
Who Can Use
This assessment can be used by clinicians.
Where Can I Find this Assessment?
This assessment is available at: https://scccmh.org/wp-content/uploads/michigan_alcohol_screening_test.pdf.
Citations
Selzer, M.L., The Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST): The Quest for a New Diagnostic Instrument. American Journal of Psychiatry, 3 :176-181, 1971.
Selzer, M.L., Vinokur, A., and van Rooijen, L., Self-Administered Short Version of the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (SMAST). Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 36 :117-126, 1975.
Severity of Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire (SADQ-C)
The Severity of Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire (SADQ-C) is a 20-item tool designed to measure the severity of alcohol dependence. It assesses five key areas: 1.) physical withdrawal symptoms, 2.) affective withdrawal symptoms, 3.) craving and withdrawal relief drinking, 4.) typical daily consumption, and 5.) reinstatement of withdrawal symptoms after abstinence. The SADQ-C is widely used in clinical settings to evaluate the extent of an individual’s alcohol dependence and to guide treatment planning. Scores range from 0 to 60 with higher scores indicating greater severity of dependence.
Who Can Use
This instrument is used after alcohol dependence has already been identified. The SADQ-C is designed to be self-administered by individuals who are seeking to assess the severity of their alcohol dependence. It can also be used by healthcare professionals to help gauge the level of dependence in their clients.
Where Can I Find this Assessment?
This assessment can be found at: https://www.smartcjs.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/SADQ.pdf.
Citations
Stockwell, T., Sitharan, T., McGrath, D.& Lang, . (1994). The measurement of alcohol dependence and impaired control in community samples. Addiction, 89, 167-174.
University of Rhode Island Change Assessment (URICA) Scale
The University of Rhode Island Change Assessment (URICA) Scale was created by Carlo DiClemente and James Prochaska in 1990. This assessment measures and individual’s readiness to change by evaluating their position within the transtheoretical stages of change (precontemplation, contemplation, action and maintenance). It is primarily used to assess changes related to addictive behaviors and psychotherapy. The URICA is designed for adults.
Who Can Use
The University of Rhode Island Change Assessment (URICA) Scale is typically self-administered, meaning individuals can complete it on their own. However, it can also be administered by trained professionals in clinical settings, such as therapists, counselors, or researchers. The scale is designed to assess an individual’s readiness to change, particularly in the context of addiction treatment.
Where Can I Find this Assessment?
There are multiple versions of the URICA available. You can find them, along with scoring information at: https://habitslab.umbc.edu/urica/.
Citations
DiClemente, C.C., Schlundt, D., & Gemmell, L. (2004). Readiness and stages of change in addiction treatment. American Journal on Addictions, 13(2), 103-119.
DiClemente, C.C. (2005). Conceptual models and applied research: The ongoing contribution of the Transtheoretical Model. Journal of Addictions Nursing, 16(1&2), 5-12.