Intervention Principles and Practice Guidelines for - Underage ...

Practice Guideline 4
Assess for substance abuse problems
If the actuarial assessment and earlier screening procedures indicate the juvenile or young adult
may have an alcohol problem, then further assessment by a substance abuse professional is warranted.
If at all possible, the professional selected to conduct assessments with juveniles and young adults
should have special training and experience in working with this population. As discussed in Section
I, underage drinkers may not meet the strict definition for alcohol abuse or dependence as outlined
by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fourth Edition (American Psychiatric
Association, 1994), but they may still have significant alcohol abuse issues that are manifested
somewhat differently in this age group.
Through a comprehensive assessment, a substance abuse professional evaluates the severity
of alcohol use and related problems, elicits information about cofactors, and develops treatment
recommendations. The assessment will gather information from a variety of sources and may need
assistance from justice system professionals to obtain the most complete set of data possible (Crowe &
Reeves, 1994). The following types of information should be gathered:
• Existing records including arrest, court, and corrections records.
• Educational records.
• Medical records.
• Mental health and substance abuse treatment records.
• Self-reports from and interviews with youth.
• Interviews with collateral contacts.
• Results of testing instruments.
Much of the information listed above is subject to confidentiality protection requiring that
the individual, and his or her legal guardian if he or she is a minor, sign a release form before the
information can be released to any entity.
Several factors that may be present in a youth’s or young adult’s life have been shown either
to increase the risk of alcohol and other drug problems or provide a measure of protection against
such problems. The protective factors or development assets were reviewed in Exhibit V-g under
the previous guideline. The risk factors are summarized in Exhibit V-i. Throughout the screening and
assessment process, information on both risk and protective factors should be collected. If justice
system personnel or substance abuse professionals find the presence of risk factors, these should be
taken into account in developing final conclusions and case plans. Similarly, the presence of protective
factors or developmental assets can provide directions for working with alcohol-involved individuals
and enhancing their resilience to withstand or overcome such problems.
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