Screening Tools

💡 Understanding the Tools
These validated screening and diagnostic tools assist in assessing substance use severity, mental health conditions, and risk factors. They are essential in clinical decision-making and treatment planning.

🟢 Alcohol Use Screening

Alcohol AUDIT-C (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test – Consumption)

  • A 10-question screening tool assessing alcohol consumption patterns.
  • Helps identify hazardous drinking and potential alcohol dependence.
  • Scores: 0–4 (low risk), 5–7 (increasing risk), 8+ (high risk/dependence).

Alcohol SADQ (Severity of Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire)

  • A 20-item tool assessing physical dependence on alcohol.
  • Evaluates withdrawal symptoms, compulsive drinking patterns, and relief drinking.
  • Scores: <15 (low dependence), 16–30 (moderate), 31–45 (severe), >45 (very severe).

🟡 Substance Use Screening

CRAFFT (For Adolescents & Young Adults)

  • A 6-question tool designed for screening adolescent substance use.
  • “C” – Car (Riding with an impaired driver)
    “R” – Relax (Using to relax or feel better)
    “A” – Alone (Using alone)
    “F” – Forget (Memory loss from use)
    “F” – Friends (Concerns from peers/family)
    “T” – Trouble (Getting into risky situations)
    Score ≥2 suggests high risk and need for further intervention.

DAST-10 (Drug Abuse Screening Test – 10 Item)

  • A 10-question screening tool for assessing drug use and consequences.
  • Covers physical, social, and legal consequences of drug use.
  • Scores: 0 (No risk), 1–2 (At risk), 3–5 (Moderate risk), 6–8 (Substantial risk), 9–10 (Severe dependence).

🔵 Health Screening

PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire – 9 Item)

  • Assesses depressive symptoms over the past two weeks.
  • Scores:
    • 0–4: Minimal depression
    • 5–9: Mild depression
    • 10–14: Moderate depression
    • 15–19: Moderately severe depression
    • 20–27: Severe depression
  • Scores ≥10 suggest clinical depression requiring intervention.

GAD-7 (Generalized Anxiety Disorder – 7 Item)

  • Screens for generalized anxiety disorder based on symptom frequency.
  • Scores:
    • 0–4: Minimal anxiety
    • 5–9: Mild anxiety
    • 10–14: Moderate anxiety
    • 15–21: Severe anxiety
  • Scores ≥10 suggest a probable anxiety disorder requiring further evaluation.

PHQ-15 (Patient Health Questionnaire – 15 Item)

  • Assesses somatic symptom severity based on common physical complaints (e.g., stomach pain, headaches, back pain).
  • Scores:
    • 0–4: Minimal symptom burden
    • 5–9: Low level of somatic symptoms
    • 10–14: Moderate level of somatic symptoms
    • 15+: High level of somatic symptoms
  • Scores ≥10 suggest further evaluation for a potential somatic symptom disorder.

    • PHQ-SADS (Patient Health Questionnaire – Anxiety and Depression Scale)

    • Combines screening for depression, anxiety, and panic symptoms using items from the PHQ-9, GAD-7, and an additional panic module.
    • Scores:
      • Composite score generated from its subscales
      • Higher scores indicate increased severity of depressive, anxious, and panic symptoms
    • Scores above established cut-offs suggest further evaluation is warranted.


      • 🚀 Key Takeaway: These screening tools help identify risk levels, guide interventions, and track treatment progress in mental health and substance use disorders.