Substance Use Screening and Risk Assessment in Adults

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Lead authors: Jennifer McNeely, MD, MS,¹ and Angeline Adam, MD,¹ with the Substance Use Guidelines Committee; October 2020

This guideline on screening and risk assessment for substance use in adults (≥18 years old) was developed by the New York State (NYS) Department of Health (DOH) AIDS Institute (AI) for use by primary care providers and in other adult outpatient care settings in NYS to achieve the following goals:

• Increase the identification of unhealthy substance use among NYS residents and increase access to evidence-based interventions for appropriate patients. “Unhealthy substance use” refers to a spectrum of use that increases the risk of health consequences and ranges from hazardous or risky patterns of use to severe substance use disorder (SUD).
• Increase the number of clinicians in NYS who perform substance use screening and risk assessment as an integral part of primary care.
• Provide clinicians with guidance on selecting validated substance use screening and risk assessment tools and on providing or referring for evidence-based interventions.
• Promote a harm reduction approach to the identification and treatment of substance use and SUDs, which involves practical strategies and ideas aimed at reducing the negative consequences associated with substance use.
  • See the NYSDOH AI guideline Harm Reduction Approach to Treatment of All Substance Use Disorders.

Role of Primary Care Providers in New York State

Primary care providers in NYS play an essential role in identifying and addressing unhealthy substance use in their patients. In light of the potential consequences of alcohol and drug use for individuals, communities, and healthcare systems, this committee recommends that all primary care providers in NYS be prepared to perform or provide substance use screening, assessment of risk level, and brief interventions as appropriate.

Development of This Guideline

This guideline was developed by the NYSDOH AI Clinical Guidelines Program, which is a collaborative effort of the NYSDOH AI Office of the Medical Director and the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases.

Established in 1986, the goal of the Clinical Guidelines Program is to develop and disseminate evidence-based, state-of-the-art clinical practice guidelines to improve the quality of care throughout NYS for people who have HIV, hepatitis C virus, or sexually transmitted infections; people with substance use issues; and members of the LGBTQ community. NYSDOH AI guidelines are developed by committees of clinical experts through a consensus-driven process.

The NYSDOH AI charged the Substance Use Guidelines Committee with developing evidence-based clinical recommendations to guide primary care and other medical care providers in screening for substance use and assessing the level of risk in adult patients with unhealthy use. The resulting recommendations are based on extensive review of the medical literature and reflect consensus among the committee members. Each recommendation is rated for strength and quality of evidence based on the rating scheme below. If a recommendation is based on expert opinion, the rationale for the opinion is provided in the text.

See About the Substance Guidelines for a full description of the development process, including evidence collection and recommendation development.

¹ Section on Tobacco, Alcohol, and Drug Use, Dept. of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY

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Lead authors: Jennifer McNeely, MD, MS,¹ and Angeline Adam, MD,¹ with the Substance Use Guidelines Committee; October 2020

Screening

Screening entails asking patients brief questions about substance use and should be routinely performed by care providers for all patients seen in medical settings. This guideline recommends substance use screening for all adults seen by primary care providers. Screening can quickly identify patients with potentially unhealthy substance use (see Box 1: Unhealthy Substance Use, below), many of whom will not have substance use–related clinical signs or symptoms Saitz(b), et al. 2014; Gordon, et al. 2013. Most screening instruments are brief and may be as short as a single question; therefore, they do not collect detailed information on the risk level, duration, or specific pattern of substance use.

• See guideline section on Substance Use Screening for All Adult Patients in the Primary Care Setting
• See Table 1: Recommended Validated Tools for Use in Medical Settings to Screen for Alcohol and Drug Use in Adults

Risk Assessment

Risk assessment is performed using brief assessment tools to collect information on the extent, duration, and pattern of an individual patient’s substance use. Assessment tools determine the level of risk (i.e., low, moderate, or high) and thus the potential for negative consequences (see Box 2: Substance Use Levels of Risk, below). This guideline recommends that clinicians use only validated questionnaires for risk assessment in patients who have a positive screening result or a history of SUD or overdose (see guideline section on Risk Assessment). As shown in Figure 1: Substance Use Identification and Risk Assessment in Primary Care, below, risk level and other individual patient factors guide clinicians in recommending appropriate interventions and informing patients about the potential consequences of their substance use McNeely(a), et al. 2016; Saitz 2005.

• See guideline section on Risk Assessment
• See Table 2: Brief, Validated Risk Assessment Tools for Use in Medical Settings With Adults ≥18 Years Old
• See guideline section on Diagnosis of Substance Use Disorder

NYSDOH-AI-Substance-Use-Screening-and-Risk-Assessment-in-Adults-Figure-1_8-2-2022_HG

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Lead authors: Jennifer McNeely, MD, MS,¹ and Angeline Adam, MD,¹ with the Substance Use Guidelines Committee; October 2020

In the United States, tobacco, alcohol, and other (e.g., illicit, nonmedical prescription) drug use are among the top 10 leading causes of preventable death, accounting for more than 500,000 deaths per year White, et al. 2020; GBD 2018. Alcohol-related deaths have doubled in the past 2 decades; in 2017, there were more than 72,500 alcohol-related deaths in the United States White, et al. 2020. Increases in opioid use disorder and skyrocketing rates of drug overdose deaths (often opioid-related) are a public health crisis across the country Wilson, et al. 2020; Dowell, et al. 2017; Rudd, et al. 2016; SAMHSA 2016.

Patient visits to healthcare settings are an opportunity for clinicians to identify substance use and related problems, offer timely interventions, and provide or link patients to treatment when indicated. Screening and treatment for tobacco use have been widely adopted as core clinical quality measures for primary care CMS 2013, but alcohol and drug use screening is not as widely performed, and use is substantially under-recognized WHO 2016; Venkatesh and Davis 2000. Although screening for alcohol use has been a recommended practice in adult primary care since 1996 Curry, et al. 2018, only 1 in 6 adults in the United States report ever discussing alcohol use with a healthcare professional McKnight-Eily, et al. 2014.

Screening for substance use in primary care is generally well accepted by patients as a marker of quality care Simonetti, et al. 2015; Miller, et al. 2006. However, for patients and care providers to be comfortable, thoughtful implementation, with sensitivity to stigma and privacy concerns, is essential Bradley, et al. 2020; McNeely, et al. 2018 (see the NYSDOH AI guideline Harm Reduction Approach to Treatment of All Substance Use Disorders > Reducing Stigma).

The goals of screening for and assessing substance use in primary care vary by practice setting and resources and may include:

• Informing medical care: One goal is to inform a patient’s medical care. Substance use is an important aspect of medical history because it can significantly affect disease processes, response to treatment, and exposure to health risks. Knowledge of a patient’s substance use informs a care provider’s diagnosis of other medical and psychiatric conditions and alerts them to associated health risks (e.g., overdose, liver disease) and common comorbid conditions (e.g., depression). Similar to knowing about a patient’s past medical history, family history, or social determinants of health, knowing about a patient’s substance use helps care providers formulate effective patient-centered treatment plans.
• Identifying the need for intervention: A second goal is to identify patients who would benefit from interventions to reduce their consumption (see guideline section on Management of Low-, Moderate-, and High-Risk Substance Use) or patients who are candidates for substance use disorder treatment (see Figure 1: Substance Use Identification and Risk Assessment in Primary Care). Evidence-based interventions are available, including brief interventions for moderate-risk alcohol use, pharmacotherapy for opioid and alcohol use disorders, and treatment for smoking cessation Patnode, et al. 2020; Curry, et al. 2018; Jonas, et al. 2014; Mattick, et al. 2014; USPHS 2008. Such treatments can be delivered effectively in a primary care setting, but they remain underused.
  • See the NYSDOH AI guidelines Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder and Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder.
• Engaging patients: Another goal is opening the conversation and engaging patients in discussion about substance use; if done with knowledge and sensitivity, this may reduce stigma, improve the patient–care provider relationship, and lead to behavior change. Initiating a discussion about substance use communicates to patients that it is a health issue, not a moral failing, and that their care provider is concerned enough about substance use to address it and offer help (see the NYSDOH AI guideline Harm Reduction Approach for Treatment of All Substance Use Disorders > Reducing Stigma).

¹ Section on Tobacco, Alcohol, and Drug Use, Dept. of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY

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Lead authors: Jennifer McNeely, MD, MS,¹ and Angeline Adam, MD,¹ with the Substance Use Guidelines Committee; October 2020

Alcohol

In primary care settings, clinicians should screen all adult patients ≥18 years old for alcohol use. A large body of evidence indicates that screening tools can accurately identify unhealthy alcohol use (see Table 1: Recommended Validated Tools for Use in Medical Settings to Screen for Alcohol and Drug Use in Adults) and that brief counseling interventions can reduce alcohol use, improve health, and be cost-effective Patnode, et al. 2020; O’Connor, et al. 2018; O’Donnell, et al. 2014; Kaner, et al. 2009; McNeely, et al. 2008; Solberg, et al. 2008; Maciosek, et al. 2006. The National Committee on Quality Assurance adopted alcohol screening and brief intervention as a quality indicator in 2018 and incorporated it into the widely used Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) performance measures.

In the absence of systematic screening, unhealthy alcohol use typically goes unidentified McKnight-Eily, et al. 2017 or is identified by healthcare providers only when an individual has developed a severe alcohol use disorder or alcohol-related health problems, such as alcohol-related cirrhosis or pancreatitis. In a study among individuals reporting current alcohol use, only 17.4% reported ever discussing their use with a health professional, and the rate was only modestly higher (25.4%) for those who reported binge drinking McKnight-Eily, et al. 2017.

Tobacco

Clinicians should screen all patients for all types of tobacco use, and when it is identified, provide counseling, assessment, and treatment USPHS 2008. Every visit with a healthcare provider affords the opportunity to identify a patient’s tobacco use and offer effective cessation interventions. Screening for tobacco use is often accomplished with 1 question: “Have you ever smoked cigarettes or used any other kind of tobacco?” Patients who answer “yes” should be asked about frequency and level of use in the past 30 days (e.g., number of cigarettes smoked per day) AHRQ 2008. Despite concern about increasing rates of e-cigarette use, screening for electronic nicotine delivery systems is not currently a recommended practice Krist, et al. 2021.

Drugs

Based on clinical experience and expertise, this committee recommends that clinicians screen for drug use in adult patients ≥18 years old who present for primary care. The decision to screen should consider the rationale and specific circumstances discussed below and should only be performed for the purpose of informing clinical care. Screening should identify a patient’s use of illicit drugs and nonmedical use of prescription drugs that can be misused (e.g., opioids, benzodiazepines, and stimulants).

Evidence supports the accuracy of validated screening questionnaires in adults Patnode, et al. 2020; however, data on the effectiveness of drug screening plus brief intervention to reduce drug use and associated health consequences are currently limited, and this is an area of active research. Randomized controlled clinical trials have generated mixed results regarding the efficacy of brief interventions in reducing drug use Patnode, et al. 2020; Gelberg, et al. 2015; Roy-Byrne, et al. 2014; Saitz(a), et al. 2014; Humeniuk, et al. 2012.

Evidence supports the benefits of pharmacologic treatment for opioid use disorder, which can be delivered effectively in primary care settings (see the NYSDOH guideline Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder > Treatment Options). However, no pharmacotherapy is currently approved by the U. S. Food and Drug Administration for other types of drug use disorders. Some patients with unhealthy use of drugs other than opioids will benefit from referral to addiction treatment or from psychosocial interventions integrated into primary care, but data on long-term outcomes of interventions in primary care settings are scarce, and many patients may not have access to evidence-based services Chou, et al. 2020.

No currently published studies demonstrate harms associated with screening adult primary care patients for drug use, although the potential for harm does exist Saitz 2020. For some patients, especially those who are pregnant or planning to conceive, positive results from a drug screening test could pose social or legal consequences, such as required reporting and the potential for involvement of child protective services (see discussion below). It is essential that care providers respect the sensitivity of any substance use information documented in patients’ health records and ensure that patients understand privacy protections for their health information.

Rationale for screening: This committee’s rationale for recommending drug use screening in adult patients, even with the potential for harm in some specific circumstances, is based on the following:

• Stigma is a significant barrier to identifying and treating unhealthy drug use or substance use disorders (SUDs). The exclusion of routine screening for drug use may perpetuate the perception that discussion of drug use with healthcare providers is taboo. This is especially the case if alcohol and tobacco use are discussed openly but drug use is not mentioned. Routine, matter-of-fact, nonjudgmental screening for drug use may help reduce stigma by normalizing this discussion.
• The social history that clinicians currently perform typically includes questions about alcohol, tobacco, and drug use but may not collect this information in a systematic and clinically useful manner. It is important that clinicians screen for drug use consistently, in a nonbiased manner, and use standardized, evidence-based screening tools.
• Opioid overdose deaths can be reduced through increased identification of unhealthy opioid use and, when indicated, effective treatment with medications for opioid use disorder SAMHSA 2019; Sordo, et al. 2017; Cousins, et al. 2016.
• Identifying and addressing unhealthy drug use, including drug use disorders, may positively affect other patient outcomes. For instance, identification of nonmedical benzodiazepine use in a patient receiving opioids for chronic pain could inform overdose prevention counseling, opioid prescribing, and provision of naloxone to reduce the patient’s overdose risk.
• Knowledge of a patient’s drug use is essential for accurate diagnosis and treatment. For example, in a patient who uses cocaine, chest pain could be the result of drug use rather than a blocked coronary artery, but without knowledge of the drug use, the healthcare provider will not have the information necessary to perform the appropriate diagnostic work-up. In addition, knowledge of drug use may be essential for an accurate diagnosis of psychiatric disorders, and knowledge of injection drug use can help guide screening for infections.

Screening in individuals who are pregnant or planning to conceive: Because there are potential legal and social consequences of a positive drug use screening result in individuals who are pregnant or planning to conceive, this committee urges caution when performing drug use screening. It is essential to engage patients in shared and informed decision-making before screening is performed. Fully informed consent includes clear discussion and confirmed patient understanding of the potential harms, consequences, and benefits of screening. For patients who are pregnant or planning to conceive, the informed consent discussion should include:

• Description of drug screening processes and procedures.
• Potential benefits of drug screening for the patient.
• Discussion of how results are interpreted and likely next steps if the screening result is positive.
• Confirmation of confidentiality of the patient’s medical information.
• Description of the CAPTA law and legal requirements for healthcare providers when screening results are positive.
• Discussion of the patient’s ability to refuse drug screening without repercussions, except in cases in which screening is mandated by an employer or by the court.
• Psychosocial support and counseling about potential harms of drugs and treatment options for SUD, if patients decline to be screened for other drugs.

Repeat screening to inform clinical care in individual patient circumstances: Iatrogenic harm is possible if a patient’s drug use is not identified, including adverse effects resulting from drug-medication interactions, overdose from combining prescribed medications with illicit drugs, and withdrawal syndromes when a patient’s drug use is undisclosed and they are unable to use, such as during hospitalization Lindsey, et al. 2012; CDC 2007; Antoniou and Tseng 2002.

Clinicians should repeat substance use screening in patients who have symptoms or other medical conditions that could be caused or exacerbated by substance use, such as chest pain, liver disease, or mood disorders Kim, et al. 2017; Edelman and Fiellin 2016; NIAAA 2016; Ries, et al. 2014; Mertens, et al. 2005; Lock and Kaner 2004.

Screening is also recommended for patients who use medications that have adverse interactions with alcohol or drugs and for patients who engage in known risk behaviors, such as unprotected sex, that may co-occur with substance use Maxwell, et al. 2019; McKetin, et al. 2018; Scott-Sheldon, et al. 2016; Rehm, et al. 2012. Patients taking prescription opioids or benzodiazepines should be screened for use of alcohol and for illicit or nonmedical use of other sedating drugs (including other opioids or benzodiazepines) that can increase the risk of overdose. Patients taking any controlled substances should be assessed for co-occurring substance use that may increase the probability of engaging in risky use of prescribed medications or of having or developing an SUD. Specific assessment tools (e.g., Opioid Risk Tool, Current Opioid Misuse Measure) have been developed to predict and evaluate prescription opioid misuse among patients receiving chronic opioid therapy, but discussion of these tools is beyond the scope of this guideline. Care providers should be aware of potential interactions between alcohol or drugs and medications, such as antiretroviral, pain management, or neurologic medications (e.g., gabapentin and pregabalin) Gomes, et al. 2017; Lyndon, et al. 2017; Lindsey, et al. 2012; Bruce, et al. 2008; Saitz 2005; Antoniou and Tseng 2002. When counseling patients who use substances about drug-medication interactions, care providers should be clear about the safety of their prescribed medications and be certain to encourage adherence to all critical medications, such as antiretroviral treatment Kalichman, et al. 2015.

See the following resources for checking drug interactions:

• Drugs.com > Drug Interactions Checker
• University of Liverpool HEP Drug Interactions Checker
• University of Liverpool HIV Drug Interactions Checker
• Consensus validation of the POSAMINO (POtentially Serious Alcohol–Medication INteractions in Older adults) criteria Holton, et al. 2017
• NYSDOH AI ART Drug-Drug Interactions
• For patients: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism > Harmful Interactions: Mixing Alcohol With Medicines

¹ Section on Tobacco, Alcohol, and Drug Use, Dept. of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY

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Lead authors: Jennifer McNeely, MD, MS,¹ and Angeline Adam, MD,¹ with the Substance Use Guidelines Committee; October 2020

Successful substance use screening relies on accurate patient self-report. Although urine toxicology, measures of blood alcohol level, or other laboratory testing may detect the presence of substances used very recently, (typically hours or ≤4 days after the last use), these tests are not appropriate for identifying unhealthy use, which may be intermittent and occur over time Bosker and Huestis 2009; Cone and Huestis 2007; Verstraete 2004. Laboratory screening tests for alcohol and drugs do not provide information about the severity or consequences of use, and thus provide less information than questionnaires.

There is no reliable biomarker with sufficient sensitivity and specificity to identify the range of drinking behaviors that constitute unhealthy alcohol use Afshar, et al. 2017; Jarvis, et al. 2017; Jatlow, et al. 2014; Stewart, et al. 2014; Verstraete 2004; Neumann and Spies 2003. For drug use, urine, saliva, and blood testing are not recommended as replacements for questionnaire-based screening because laboratory tests have a brief window of detection (typically 1 to 4 days) Bosker and Huestis 2009; Cone and Huestis 2007; Verstraete 2004. Although hair testing has a more extended detection period, the cost and lack of reliability for detecting occasional drug use decrease its utility in primary care Verstraete 2004.

An optimal screening instrument will quickly and accurately identify individuals with the full spectrum of unhealthy use, fit into the existing clinical workflow, and have flexible administration options (i.e., self- or interviewer-administered). To facilitate patient report of substance use, the language used in any screening tool should be clear and nonjudgmental. Drug screening should capture nonmedical prescription drug use and illicit drug use. Table 1: Recommended Validated Tools for Use in Medical Settings to Screen for Alcohol and Drug Use in Adults, above, lists recommended substance use screening tools.

The briefest approach to screening may be to use the Single-Item Screening Questions (SISQ) for alcohol or drug use (SISQ-Alc and -Drug). SISQ tools are validated for interviewer administration or self-administration and have good sensitivity and specificity. A positive response on SISQ tools identifies unhealthy use in the past year but does not indicate the level of risk. Both the Substance Use Brief Screen (SUBS) and the first section of the Tobacco, Alcohol, Prescription Medication, and Other Substance Use (TAPS-1) tool elicit information about use of tobacco, alcohol, illicit drugs, and nonmedical prescription drugs through a single 4-item instrument. Like the SISQ-Alc and -Drug, the SUBS and TAPS-1 tools screen for any use in the past year, and a positive response indicates unhealthy use but does not identify level of risk.

In some circumstances, the purpose of screening may be to diagnose substance use disorder rather than identify unhealthy drug use. For example, if the clinical setting cannot offer early intervention or preventive care, screening may be used to identify individuals in need of referral to addiction treatment. In such cases, the Screen of Drug Use (SoDU) tool, which specifically identifies drug use disorders, may be used. The SoDU was validated using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders–IV (DSM-IV) criteria, and a positive screen corresponds to a DSM-IV diagnosis of “drug abuse or dependence.”

Alcohol: The briefest alcohol screening questionnaires (SISQ-Alc, TAPS-1, SUBS) use a single question about binge drinking in the past year to identify unhealthy alcohol use. Although it is possible for patients to use more alcohol than the recommended limits in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Agriculture Dietary Guidelines (14 drinks/week for men ≤65 years old, 7 drinks/week for women and men ≥65 years old), even in the absence of binge drinking, validation studies have demonstrated good sensitivity NIAAA 2016; DHHS 2015. The 3-item Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test–Concise (AUDIT-C) is a widely used and recommended brief screening tool for alcohol use in medical settings Moyer 2013; Frank, et al. 2008; Bradley, et al. 2007; Reinert and Allen 2007; Bradley, et al. 2003; Bush, et al. 1998. Unlike the other brief screening tools, the AUDIT-C identifies the level of risk to patients with problem use and high-risk use. The AUDIT-C does not screen for tobacco or drugs.

Tobacco: Tobacco use is incorporated into some of the brief screening instruments (SUBS, TAPS-1) included in Table 1: Recommended Validated Tools for Use in Medical Settings to Screen for Alcohol and Drug Use in Adults, above. The accuracy of SUBS and TAPS-1 tools for identifying tobacco use is high, with a sensitivity of 98% and a specificity ranging from 80% to 96% Gryczynski, et al. 2017; McNeely(a), et al. 2015. Use of a single instrument that concurrently screens for tobacco and alcohol use will streamline the screening process.

Drugs: Screening for drug use can be performed with the SISQ-Drug, SUBS, or TAPS-1 tools, all of which perform well in validation studies of adults in primary care settings Gryczynski, et al. 2017; McNeely(a), et al. 2016; McNeely(a), et al. 2015; McNeely(b), et al. 2015. With changes in the legal status of cannabis and shifting attitudes toward cannabis use, clinics should provide patients and staff with clear instructions about reporting cannabis use on questionnaires that categorize cannabis as an illicit drug Lapham, et al. 2017. In states where cannabis is legal, it may be best to ask about its use separately from illicit drugs Sayre, et al. 2020.

¹ Section on Tobacco, Alcohol, and Drug Use, Dept. of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY

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Lead authors: Jennifer McNeely, MD, MS,¹ and Angeline Adam, MD,¹ with the Substance Use Guidelines Committee; October 2020

Candidates for Risk Assessment

Clinicians should use validated tools to perform substance use assessment in individual patients who have any of the characteristics discussed below. The purpose of assessment is to identify the level of risk (low, moderate, or high) posed by a patient’s substance use to guide clinical decisions about intervention, treatment, and follow-up (see Figure 1: Substance Use Identification and Risk Assessment in Primary Care).

Positive substance use screening test: Given current levels of substance use in the general population and the negative effects of unhealthy substance use, any positive screening test result should prompt an efficient and accurate risk assessment McNeely(a), et al. 2015; McNeely(b), et al. 2015.

Known history of SUD or overdose: Polysubstance use is common in people with SUD Callaghan, et al. 2018; Falk, et al. 2006; McLellan, et al. 2000; Earleywine and Newcomb 1997. For patients with a history of SUD, identification of all substances used, including tobacco, and assessment of the associated levels of risk are indicated for early intervention and clinical decision-making. SUDs are chronic conditions, and even patients with long periods of abstinence remain vulnerable to resuming previous patterns of use McLellan, et al. 2000. Patients with a history of SUD may reduce or stop use of one substance but develop unhealthy use of a different substance (e.g., alcohol) Lin, et al. 2021; Callaghan, et al. 2018; Wang, et al. 2017; Falk, et al. 2006; Earleywine and Newcomb 1997. Furthermore, overdose is frequently the result of polysubstance use, often involving use of opioids in combination with alcohol and other drugs Tori, et al. 2020. In patients with a history of nonfatal overdose, it is critically important to conduct an assessment and identify all of the substances being used; the results will guide education and treatment to reduce the risk of another overdose.

The level of risk of associated with substance use in individuals who are planning to become pregnant should inform counseling, particularly in light of the risk of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder that occurs early in pregnancy May, et al. 2018; Moyer 2013; Stade, et al. 2009; Floyd, et al. 2008; Floyd, et al. 2006; DHHS 2005; CDC 2003. In addition, it is reasonable to perform a substance use assessment in patients with chronic diseases who have poor adherence to treatment recommendations or are not responding as expected to treatment of their medical condition Garin, et al. 2017; Daskalopoulou, et al. 2014.

Risk Assessment Tools

Substance use assessment tools are designed to collect information on the quantity, frequency, and duration of substance use and to indicate a risk level (see Table 2, below).

Alcohol use: To assess level of risk in patients who use alcohol, clinicians can use the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) or the AUDIT-Concise (AUDIT-C) tool, both of which have been widely adopted in medical settings NIAAA 206; Bradley, et al. 2007; Reinert and Allen 2007; Bradley, et al. 2003. The AUDIT is a 10-item questionnaire developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) for alcohol use screening in medical settings. The AUDIT-C consists of the first 3 items of the AUDIT, which asks only about alcohol consumption. Although the full AUDIT is still widely used, the 3-item AUDIT-C performs as well as the full 10-item AUDIT instrument for identifying risky use and problem use in studies conducted among primary care patients in the United States Bradley, et al. 2007. However, use of the full AUDIT provides expanded information about problems related to alcohol use that may be helpful for care providers offering brief interventions or other alcohol counseling.

Tobacco use: For patients who use tobacco, assessment of health risks is typically accomplished by asking about the number of cigarettes smoked per day. The 2-item Heaviness of Smoking Index, which asks about total cigarettes per day and the timing of the first cigarette, can determine the level of dependence for daily smokers.

Drug use: For assessment of drug use, which can involve multiple substance classes with varying levels of risk, the instruments are by necessity more complex. The WHO Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) was one of the first screening tools designed for use in healthcare settings to provide substance-specific risk stratification for drugs. Its length and complexity have hindered its implementation in primary care settings Ali, et al. 2013; Babor, et al. 2007, but a self-administered electronic version may be more feasible McNeely(b), et al. 2016.

The more recently developed Tobacco, Alcohol, Prescription Medication, and Other Substance Use (TAPS) tool streamlines the ASSIST to perform this assessment relatively quickly and still supply substance-specific information about the level of risk. Scores range from 0 to 4, with higher scores indicating greater severity. The TAPS tool was specifically developed for adult primary care and is recommended for use in general medical settings to screen for opioid and other substance use SAMHSA 2018. It is validated in an electronic, patient self-administered format (myTAPS) Adam, et al. 2019 and a more traditional interviewer-administered questionnaire. An online version of the TAPS tool with clinical guidance on interpreting the scores and resources for intervention is available on the National Institute on Drug Abuse TAPS website.

¹ Section on Tobacco, Alcohol, and Drug Use, Dept. of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY

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Lead authors: Susan D. Whitley, MD,¹ and Alan Rodriguez Penney, MD,² with the Substance Use Guidelines Committee; October 2020

Assessment with validated tools can characterize the level of risk as low, moderate, or high (see Figure 1: Substance Use Identification and Risk Assessment in Primary Care and Table 2: Brief, Validated Risk Assessment Tools for Use in Medical Settings With Adults ≥18 Years Old). Intervention options for substance use are determined by the level of risk identified in the assessment process, an individual’s perception of the problem, and time restrictions, among other factors. Individuals with unhealthy substance use regularly interact with the healthcare system, and primary care settings are optimally positioned to offer prevention and treatment interventions. All clinicians can develop the skills to offer treatment or refer patients for appropriate interventions McLellan 2017; Edelman and Fiellin 2016.

Harm reduction strategies should be discussed with individuals who engage in substance use at all risk levels; see the NYSDOH AI guideline Harm Reduction Approach to Treatment of All Substance Use Disorders > Box 2: Harm Reduction Counseling in the Medical Setting.

Clinical resources for addressing tobacco use include the New York State Department of Health Information about Tobacco Use, Smoking and Secondhand Smoke, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene publication Treating Tobacco Addiction, and the American Academy of Family Physicians table of FDA-Approved Medications for Smoking Cessation. For patients who use any type of tobacco, the U.S. Public Health Service Clinical Practice Guideline for Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence: 2008 Update recommends the “5 As” approach as an intervention:

1. Ask patients about tobacco use.
2. Advise tobacco users to quit.
3. Assess willingness to quit.
4. Assist in a quit attempt.
5. Arrange for follow-up.

For individuals with low-risk use of any substance, clinicians can offer positive reinforcement and reminders of the negative consequences of use. For individuals who use alcohol, clinicians can provide information on the recommended limits of use; see the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Agriculture Dietary Guidelines DHHS 2015. Robust evidence supports the efficacy of screening and brief interventions in the primary care setting for reducing alcohol use among individuals with unhealthy use who do not meet criteria for alcohol use disorder Curry, et al. 2018; Jonas, et al. 2012. Studies on the efficacy of brief interventions in reducing drug use have found mixed results Gelberg, et al. 2015; Roy-Byrne, et al. 2014; Saitz(a), et al. 2014; Humeniuk, et al. 2012; however, brief interventions are recommended by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and have been implemented in many healthcare settings with no evidence of harm SAMHSA 2018. If an individual has high-risk substance use, it is essential to perform or refer for a full diagnostic substance use disorder assessment using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders–5 criteria (see guideline section on Diagnosis of Substance Use Disorder).

Brief interventions: Brief interventions range from 5 to 20 minutes in duration, vary in frequency, and include a variety of components based on different psychological and motivational approaches. Common elements of a brief intervention include discussion of the risks and benefits of substance use as perceived by the patient, individualized feedback regarding level of risk, advice on reducing use to within recommended safe limits, discussion of any related health effects, and motivational support (see Figure 2: Brief Intervention: “Can We Spend a Few Minutes Talking About Your Substance Use?”, below). A commonly used acronym is FRAMES: Feedback, Responsibility, Advice, Menu Options, Empathy, and Self-Efficacy. The time available for an intervention and the individual’s level of engagement and motivation for change often determine the duration, type, and frequency of brief interventions.

For further information and resources, see the NYSDOH AI guideline Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder > Non-Pharmacological Treatment > Online Resources: Behavioral Therapy for Alcohol Use Disorder.

NYSDOH-AI-Substance-Use-Screening-and-Risk-Assessment-in-Adults-Figure-2_8-2-2022_HG

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Lead authors: Susan D. Whitley, MD,¹ and Alan Rodriguez Penney, MD,² with the Substance Use Guidelines Committee; October 2020

Healthcare providers should perform or refer patients for a full assessment based on DSM-5 diagnostic criteria to accurately diagnose an SUD APA 2013 (see Table 3: DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria for Diagnosing and Classifying Substance Use Disorders, below). The DSM-5 criteria can accurately diagnose the SUD and its severity—mild, moderate, or severe—and the assessment can be performed by the clinician or experienced staff. If expertise or resources are limited, then clinicians may refer the patient to a care provider who can perform the full assessment. Clinicians experienced in assessing and treating SUD may elect to use the DSM-5 criteria as the initial assessment tool.

To enhance patient engagement and increase the possibility that a patient will follow through with the care plan, interventions must be tailored to match an individual’s perception of the problem and their readiness to change NIAAA 2016; VA/DoD 2015; SAMHSA 1997. Based on clinical experience, the diagnostic process is an opportunity to build rapport; explore a patient’s attitudes toward substance use and treatment; dispel any misconceptions about treatment, particularly pharmacologic treatment; and engage patients in care.

Patients often present with concurrent substance use and mental health disorders, and symptoms of one can mimic the other, which can complicate diagnosis and make it more challenging SAMHSA 2019. Clinicians should consider a diagnosis of SUD before establishing a primary psychiatric diagnosis (e.g., consider alcohol-induced depressive disorder before diagnosing a major depressive disorder). Symptoms of intoxication, such as depressed or elevated mood or perceptual disturbances, and symptoms of withdrawal, such as depression, anxiety, and insomnia, can also mimic psychiatric symptoms and should be carefully assessed.

¹ New York City Health + Hospitals/Kings County, Brooklyn, New York
² SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York

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Lead authors: Jennifer McNeely, MD, MS,¹ Angeline Adam, MD,¹ Susan D. Whitley, MD,² and Alan Rodriguez Penney, MD,³ with the Substance Use Guidelines Committee; October 2020

¹ Section on Tobacco, Alcohol, and Drug Use, Dept. of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY
² New York City Health + Hospitals/Kings County, Brooklyn, New York
³ SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York