CAADC Screening and Assessment Instruments for SUD 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What makes the AUDIT unique among alcohol screening tools?
- It is a blood test
- It assesses current drinking patterns and harm across the full spectrum, not just dependence symptoms (Correct answer)
- Only administered by physicians
- Screens for all substances
Correct answer: It assesses current drinking patterns and harm across the full spectrum, not just dependence symptoms
The AUDIT screens hazardous, harmful, and dependent drinking patterns with 10 WHO-developed items.
Ten items across three domains: hazardous use, dependence symptoms, and harmful use. Zone-based scoring guides intervention level. The AUDIT-C (first 3 questions) is used as an even briefer screen.
Question 2: How does the ASI differ from screening tools like the CAGE?
- ASI is a brief 4-question tool
- ASI is a comprehensive semi-structured interview assessing seven life domains for a multidimensional profile (Correct answer)
- ASI only measures alcohol severity
- ASI is self-administered
Correct answer: ASI is a comprehensive semi-structured interview assessing seven life domains for a multidimensional profile
The ASI evaluates medical, employment, drug, alcohol, legal, family, and psychiatric domains.
The ASI generates composite scores for each domain, is administered as a 45-60 minute interview, and is valuable for treatment planning, outcome measurement, and research.
Question 3: What is the DAST-10 and when is it most appropriately used?
- A urine drug test
- A brief 10-item screening tool for drug use problems (excluding alcohol) in quick screening settings (Correct answer)
- A comprehensive 3-hour assessment
- Screens only for marijuana
Correct answer: A brief 10-item screening tool for drug use problems (excluding alcohol) in quick screening settings
The DAST-10 quickly identifies potential drug use problems, complementing alcohol-specific screens.
Ten yes/no questions covering the past 12 months, scored 0-10 with cutoffs suggesting intervention levels. Appropriate for primary care, ED, EAP, and initial intake screening. Not a standalone diagnostic tool.
Question 4: Why must CAADC counselors understand sensitivity and specificity of screening instruments?
- They are irrelevant to practice
- Understanding these helps interpret results accurately, recognizing possible false positives and negatives (Correct answer)
- Only for researchers
- They refer to emotional impact of questions
Correct answer: Understanding these helps interpret results accurately, recognizing possible false positives and negatives
These properties tell counselors how much to trust screening results.
Sensitivity = true positive rate (catching real cases). Specificity = true negative rate (avoiding false alarms). Positive screens need confirmatory assessment. Different cutoffs change the balance.
Question 5: What role do biological markers and drug testing play in SUD assessment?
- The only valid method
- They provide objective data complementing self-report, helping verify information and monitor progress (Correct answer)
- Never appropriate in treatment
- Can determine addiction severity
Correct answer: They provide objective data complementing self-report, helping verify information and monitor progress
Biological testing supplements self-report with objective data while having important limitations.
Types include urine screens, blood tests, breathalyzer, hair follicle, and oral fluid testing. Limitations include detection windows, false positives/negatives, and potential therapeutic alliance damage if used punitively.
Question 6: How should screening and assessment differ for adolescent clients?
- No difference
- Requires developmentally appropriate instruments, attention to family/school functioning, and consideration of legal issues like consent (Correct answer)
- Adolescents should not be screened
- Adult tools work without modification
Correct answer: Requires developmentally appropriate instruments, attention to family/school functioning, and consideration of legal issues like consent
Adolescent assessment requires age-appropriate tools and developmental considerations.
Use tools like CRAFFT validated for youth. Assess family functioning, school performance, peer relationships. Consider different progression patterns, legal consent issues, and common co-occurring conditions (ADHD, trauma).
CAADC Screening and Assessment Instruments for SUD 2
What makes the AUDIT unique among alcohol screening tools?