NCJ Number
178180
Journal
Journal of Addictive Diseases Volume: 18 Issue: 2 Dated: 1999 Pages: 83-88
Date Published
1999
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This study compares the performance of rapid assessment instruments with the performance of the Miller Substance Abuse Subtly Screening Inventory (SASSI) in detecting substance abuse by public welfare and child protective service clients.
Abstract
Given new welfare reforms, it is essential that public welfare workers move individuals from welfare to work in an expedient fashion. Client alcohol and/or drug use/abuse is one barrier that may inhibit this process. The current study administered the Hudson Index of Alcohol Involvement, the Hudson Index of Drug Involvement (rapid assessment instruments) and the SASSI to a sample (n=93) of public welfare and child protection system clients. Findings show that the two rapid assessment measures strongly correlated with the advanced, commonly used SASSI measure. The study suggests that public welfare workers should institute these rapid assessment instruments at intake to screen clients for alcohol and drug use/abuse. When indicated, the client could then be referred to the appropriate agency for further assessment and treatment, so as to better prepare them for employment as mandated by new welfare reforms. The rapid assessment instruments were found to be shorter than the SASSI, easily administered, and able to detect alcohol and/or drug use/abuse effectively and efficiently in these populations. 1 table and 10 references