Keywords:

Alcohol Use, Drug Use

Background:

Alcohol and drug abuse have direct and indirect effects on the risk for contracting HIV. The sharing of needles during injection drug use is directly associated with the risk for contracting HIV. Indirectly, individuals may be more likely to engage in HIV risk behaviors while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. The following is a simple screening instrument for alcohol and other drug abuse (AOD) that was developed by the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. The scale can be used to determine if a client has problems with alcohol and drug abuse and to determine if a more detailed assessment needs to be completed. This screening instrument was developed by including items from several other assessments. Citations for each of the items are provided at the end of this document. Face-to-face as well as self-administered versions of this scale are available.

Copyright:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, SAMHSA

Assessment:

Scale items:

Simple Screening Instrument for AOD Abuse:
Self-Administered Form:

Directions: The questions that follow are about your use of alcohol and other drugs. Your answers will be kept private. Mark the response that best fits for you. Answer the questions in terms of your experiences in the past 6 months.

During the last 6 months...

1. Have you used alcohol or other drugs? (Such as wine, beer, hard liquor, pot, coke, heroin or other opiates, uppers, downers, hallucinogens, or inhalants)
2. Have you felt that you use too much alcohol or other drugs?
3. Have you tried to cut down or quit drinking or using alcohol or other drugs?
4. Have you gone to anyone for help because of your drinking or drug use? (Such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Cocaine Anonymous, counselors, or a treatment program.)
5. Have you had any health problems? For example, have you (check all that apply):
   • Had blackouts or other periods of memory loss?
   • Injured your head after drinking or using drugs?
   • Had convulsions, delirium tremens (DTs)?
   • Had hepatitis or other liver problems?
   • Felt sick, shaky, or depressed when you stopped?
   • Felt "coke bugs" or a crawling feeling under the skin after you stopped using drugs?
   • Been injured after drinking or using?
   • Used needles to shoot drugs?
6. Has drinking or other drug use caused problems between you and your family or friends?
7. Has your drinking or other drug use caused problems at school or at work?
8. Have you been arrested or had other legal problems? (Such as bouncing bad checks, driving while intoxicated, theft, or drug possession.)
9. Have you lost your temper or gotten into arguments or fights while drinking or using other drugs?
10. Are you needing to drink or use drugs more and more to get the effect you want?
11. Do you spend a lot of time thinking about or trying to get alcohol or other drugs?
12. When drinking or using drugs, are you more likely to do something you wouldn't normally do, such as break rules, break the law, sell things that are important to you, or have unprotected sex with someone?
13. Do you feel bad or guilty about your drinking or drug use?

The next questions are about your lifetime experiences.

14. Have you ever had a drinking or other drug problem?
15. Have any of your family members ever had a drinking or drug problem?
16. Do you feel that you have a drinking or drug problem now?

USE THE FOLLOWING RESPONSE CATEGORIES FOR ITEMS 1-4 and 6-16

1. Yes
2. No

References:

• Winters, K.C. & Zenilman, J.M. (1994). Simple Screening instruments for Outreach for Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse and Infectious Diseases: Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Services. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. Rockville, MD.

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