Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST)

Description

The Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) is a comprehensive tool developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) aimed at screening individuals for the use of various substances, including alcohol and drugs, in a non-medical context. This screening test is designed to help identify potential substance use disorders and facilitate early intervention by healthcare professionals. It assesses a range of substances that may impact an individual’s health and wellbeing, providing a structured format to gather important information from patients regarding their substance use behaviors and related consequences over specified time frames. In addition to its primary role in screening, ASSIST allows clinicians to track changes over time in substance use patterns and perceptions, which can be crucial for both treatment planning and follow-up assessments.

Authors and Contact Email

World Health Organisation [WHO] ASSIST Working Group. For additional information, contact: Dr Nicolas Kambouropoulos ([email protected]), Associate Professor Petra Staiger ([email protected]), or Julia Nicholls ([email protected]).

Purpose

The purpose of the ASSIST is to identify individuals at risk of substance use disorders through a structured questionnaire addressing various substance use behaviors. The tool aims to facilitate appropriate referrals to treatment and intervention as necessary.

Test Year

2002

Administration Method and Scoring

The ASSIST is conducted as a structured interview or self-administered questionnaire, consisting of several questions concerning the frequency and consequences of substance use. The scoring system utilizes a range of numeric values assigned based on the frequency of use and associated problems, allowing for a comprehensive assessment of substance involvement.

Reliability and Validity

Information not available.

Factors and Subscales

Information not available.

Keywords

Alcohol, Smoking, Substance Use, Screening Test, WHO, ASSIST, Substance Involvement.

Items of ‘Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST)’

Question 1: In your life, which of the following substances have you ever used? (NON-MEDICAL USE ONLY)

• a. Tobacco products (cigarettes, chewing tobacco, cigars, etc.)
• b. Alcoholic beverages (beer, wine, spirits, etc.)
• c. Cannabis (marijuana, pot, grass, hash, etc.)
• d. Cocaine (coke, crack, etc.)
• e. Amphetamine type stimulants (speed, diet pills, ecstasy, etc.)
• f. Inhalants (nitrous, glue, petrol, paint thinner, etc.)
• g. Sedatives or Sleeping Pills (Valium, Serepax, Rohypnol, etc.)
• h. Hallucinogens (LSD, acid, mushrooms, PCP, Special K, etc.)
• i. Opioids (heroin, morphine, methadone, codeine, etc.)
• j. Other – specify:

Question 2: In the past three months, how often have you used the substances you mentioned?

• a. Tobacco products (cigarettes, chewing tobacco, cigars, etc.)
• b. Alcoholic beverages (beer, wine, spirits, etc.)
• c. Cannabis (marijuana, pot, grass, hash, etc.)
• d. Cocaine (coke, crack, etc.)
• e. Amphetamine type stimulants (speed, diet pills, ecstasy, etc.)
• f. Inhalants (nitrous, glue, petrol, paint thinner, etc.)
• g. Sedatives or Sleeping Pills (Valium, Serepax, Rohypnol, etc.)
• h. Hallucinogens (LSD, acid, mushrooms, PCP, Special K, etc.)
• i. Opioids (heroin, morphine, methadone, codeine, etc.)
• j. Other – specify:

Question 3: During the past three months, how often have you had a strong desire or urge to use?

• a. Tobacco products (cigarettes, chewing tobacco, cigars, etc.)
• b. Alcoholic beverages (beer, wine, spirits, etc.)
• c. Cannabis (marijuana, pot, grass, hash, etc.)
• d. Cocaine (coke, crack, etc.)
• e. Amphetamine type stimulants (speed, diet pills, ecstasy, etc.)
• f. Inhalants (nitrous, glue, petrol, paint thinner, etc.)
• g. Sedatives or Sleeping Pills (Valium, Serepax, Rohypnol, etc.)
• h. Hallucinogens (LSD, acid, mushrooms, PCP, Special K, etc.)
• i. Opioids (heroin, morphine, methadone, codeine, etc.)
• j. Other – specify:

Question 4: During the past three months, how often has your use led to health, social, legal or financial problems?

• a. Tobacco products (cigarettes, chewing tobacco, cigars, etc.)
• b. Alcoholic beverages (beer, wine, spirits, etc.)
• c. Cannabis (marijuana, pot, grass, hash, etc.)
• d. Cocaine (coke, crack, etc.)
• e. Amphetamine type stimulants (speed, diet pills, ecstasy, etc.)
• f. Inhalants (nitrous, glue, petrol, paint thinner, etc.)
• g. Sedatives or Sleeping Pills (Valium, Serepax, Rohypnol, etc.)
• h. Hallucinogens (LSD, acid, mushrooms, PCP, Special K, etc.)
• i. Opioids (heroin, morphine, methadone, codeine, etc.)
• j. Other – specify:

Question 5: During the past three months, how often have you failed to do what was normally expected of you because of your use?

• a. Tobacco products (cigarettes, chewing tobacco, cigars, etc.)
• b. Alcoholic beverages (beer, wine, spirits, etc.)
• c. Cannabis (marijuana, pot, grass, hash, etc.)
• d. Cocaine (coke, crack, etc.)
• e. Amphetamine type stimulants (speed, diet pills, ecstasy, etc.)
• f. Inhalants (nitrous, glue, petrol, paint thinner, etc.)
• g. Sedatives or Sleeping Pills (Valium, Serepax, Rohypnol, etc.)
• h. Hallucinogens (LSD, acid, mushrooms, PCP, Special K, etc.)
• i. Opioids (heroin, morphine, methadone, codeine, etc.)
• j. Other – specify:

Question 6: Has a friend or relative or anyone else ever expressed concern about your use?

• a. Tobacco products (cigarettes, chewing tobacco, cigars, etc.)
• b. Alcoholic beverages (beer, wine, spirits, etc.)
• c. Cannabis (marijuana, pot, grass, hash, etc.)
• d. Cocaine (coke, crack, etc.)
• e. Amphetamine type stimulants (speed, diet pills, ecstasy, etc.)
• f. Inhalants (nitrous, glue, petrol, paint thinner, etc.)
• g. Sedatives or Sleeping Pills (Valium, Serepax, Rohypnol, etc.)
• h. Hallucinogens (LSD, acid, mushrooms, PCP, Special K, etc.)
• i. Opioids (heroin, morphine, methadone, codeine, etc.)
• j. Other – specify:

Question 7: Have you ever tried and failed to control, cut down or stop using?

• a. Tobacco products (cigarettes, chewing tobacco, cigars, etc.)
• b. Alcoholic beverages (beer, wine, spirits, etc.)
• c. Cannabis (marijuana, pot, grass, hash, etc.)
• d. Cocaine (coke, crack, etc.)
• e. Amphetamine type stimulants (speed, diet pills, ecstasy, etc.)
• f. Inhalants (nitrous, glue, petrol, paint thinner, etc.)
• g. Sedatives or Sleeping Pills (Valium, Serepax, Rohypnol, etc.)
• h. Hallucinogens (LSD, acid, mushrooms, PCP, Special K, etc.)
• i. Opioids (heroin, morphine, methadone, codeine, etc.)
• j. Other – specify:

Question 8: Have you ever used any drug by injection?

• 0 = No, never
• 2 = Yes, in the past 3 Months
• 1 = Yes, but not in the past 3 Months

References

The full instrument and further details can be found at http://www.who.int/substance_abuse/activities/en/Draft_The_ASSIST_Guidelines.pdf.

WHO ASSIST Working Group. (2002). The Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST): Development, reliability and feasibility. Addiction, 97(9), 1183-1194.

Sue Henry-Edwards, Rachel Humeniuk, Robert Ali, Vladimir Poznyak and Maristela Monteiro. The Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST): Guidelines for Use in Primary Care (Draft Version 1.1 for Field Testing). Geneva, World Health Organization, 2003.

Humeniuk, R., Ali, R., Babor, T. F., Farrell, M., Formigoni, M. L., Jittiwutikarn, J,… Simon, S. (2008). Validation of the alcohol, smoking and substance involvement screening test (ASSIST). Addiction, 103(6), 1039-1047.

Newcombe, D. A., Humeniuk, R. E., & Ali, R. (2005). Validation of the World Health Organization Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST): Report of results from the Australian site. Drug and Alcohol Review, 24(3), 217-226.

https://scales.arabpsychology.com/s/alcohol-smoking-and-substance-involvement-screening-test-assist/