Drug and alcohol evaluation
Pro Research Analysisby 
Searched over 200M research papers
Drug and Alcohol Evaluation: Key Tools and Methods
Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST)
The Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST) is a widely used tool designed for clinical screening and treatment evaluation of drug misuse. It consists of 28 self-report items that measure various consequences of drug use, providing a quantitative index of problems related to drug misuse. The DAST has demonstrated substantial internal consistency reliability (0.92) and a unidimensional scale structure. It shows moderate correlation with social desirability and denial, and its concurrent validity is supported by significant correlations with background variables, drug use frequency, and psychopathology indices1.
Measurements in the Addictions for Triage and Evaluation (MATE)
The MATE is a comprehensive tool based on the World Health Organization's classification systems, designed to assess characteristics of individuals with drug and/or alcohol problems for triage and evaluation in treatment. It includes 10 modules, with two newly designed ICF-related modules. The MATE has shown good inter-rater reliability (0.75 to 0.92) and satisfactory construct validity, with significant correlations with the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule II and WHO Quality of Life brief version. It is practical for use in diverse populations due to its comprehensive yet flexible nature2.
Self-Evaluation Approach for Drug and Alcohol Services
In Australia, a self-evaluation approach has been developed to address the lack of evaluation in drug and alcohol services. This method involves comparing program objectives with actual outcomes using a resource kit, workshops, and individual consultations. Preliminary results indicate that nearly half of the participating services have commenced evaluation activities, with participants reporting increased knowledge and skills in evaluation and reduced anxiety about the process3.
Behavioral Assessment and Treatment Planning
Effective assessment and treatment planning for substance abuse require more than just measuring substance use. It involves evaluating the functions of a substance abuser's drug and alcohol use to develop meaningful treatment goals and strategies. Various assessment methods and instruments are available to evaluate the severity of substance problems and guide treatment planning. The utility of each technique depends on the specific needs and problems of each client4.
Single Screening Questions (SSQs)
Single screening questions (SSQs) are recommended for evaluating unhealthy alcohol and drug use, including dependence. SSQs have shown high accuracy in identifying substance dependence, with areas under the ROC curve ranging from 0.87 to 0.96. They offer a practical alternative to longer questionnaires, making them useful for both screening and preliminary assessment in primary care settings5.
Drug Evaluation and Classification (DEC) Program
The DEC program, used by police agencies to determine drug-related impairment, has been validated for predicting the intake of ethanol, cocaine, and marijuana. The program's accuracy improves when focusing on a subset of evaluation variables. However, the consistency of trained officers' conclusions with toxicology results varies, suggesting room for improvement in the evaluation process6.
Economic Evaluations of Drug and Alcohol Interventions
Economic evaluations play a crucial role in assessing the benefits of health interventions for drug and alcohol problems. Various modelling approaches, such as cohort Markov models and decision trees, are used to evaluate long-term costs and benefits. However, many studies adopt a narrow perspective, focusing only on healthcare sector costs and benefits. Policymakers can use these models to enhance the quality of economic evaluations for treatment interventions7.
Individualized Client Goals
Individualized goal setting by clients can provide valuable information for evaluating drug and alcohol programs. This approach, known as Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS), involves clients setting personal goals in collaboration with counselors. GAS has been shown to be effective in creating realistic, individualized outcomes for follow-up evaluation, with nearly all clients in a sample choosing to set goals8.
Alcohol Use Disorder and Associated Disabilities Interview Schedule (AUDADIS)
The AUDADIS is a reliable tool for assessing alcohol and drug use in the general population. It shows good to excellent reliability for measures of alcohol consumption and use of various drugs, as well as for diagnoses of substance abuse and dependence according to ICD-10 and DSM criteria. Future research is needed to further validate the AUDADIS in both clinical and general population samples9.
Evaluation of Psychotropic Drugs on Driving Performance
Evaluating the impact of psychotropic drugs on driving performance is essential for ensuring safety. Both on-the-road tests (ORT) and driving simulators (DS) are used for this purpose. While ORT is considered the gold standard, DS are increasingly used due to their safety and cost-effectiveness. However, the reliability and validity of DS need further validation, especially in comparison with alcohol evaluation methods10.
Conclusion
Effective evaluation of drug and alcohol use involves a combination of screening tools, comprehensive assessment methods, and individualized goal setting. Tools like the DAST, MATE, and AUDADIS provide reliable measures for clinical and research purposes. Economic evaluations and self-evaluation approaches further enhance the understanding and improvement of treatment programs. Ensuring the accuracy and reliability of these methods is crucial for addressing substance abuse effectively.
Sources and full results
Most relevant research papers on this topic
The drug abuse screening test.
The Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST) is a reliable and valid tool for quantifying drug involvement in help-seeking populations, but further validation is needed in other populations and settings.
Observational Study
Highly CitedMeasurements in the Addictions for Triage and Evaluation (MATE): an instrument based on the World Health Organization family of international classifications.
The MATE is a comprehensive, flexible, and practical tool for assessing substance abuse patients for triage and evaluation in treatment, with potential for use in a heterogeneous population.
Observational Study
Rigorous JournalHighly CitedA new string to our bow: the role of a self-evaluation approach for drug and alcohol services.
A self-evaluation method for drug and alcohol services in New South Wales has significantly increased knowledge and skills, and decreased anxiety about evaluation, leading to improved program effectiveness.
Behavioral assessment and treatment planning with alcohol and drug abusers: A review with an emphasis on clinical application☆
This paper reviews various assessment methods and instruments for evaluating alcohol and drug problems and providing direction for treatment planning, emphasizing the importance of considering client needs and recent research findings.
Literature ReviewThe ability of single screening questions for unhealthy alcohol and other drug use to identify substance dependence in primary care.
Single screening questions (SSQs) can effectively identify substance dependence in primary care settings, potentially overcoming barriers to screening and brief intervention.
Observational StudyLaboratory validation study of drug evaluation and classification program: ethanol, cocaine, and marijuana.
The Drug Evaluation and Classification (DEC) program accurately predicts acute administration of ethanol, cocaine, or marijuana, with improved predictions if trained officers focus on a subset of variables.
A systematic review of modelling approaches in economic evaluations of health interventions for drug and alcohol problems
Modeling techniques, such as cohort Markov models, can enhance the quality of economic evaluations for drug and alcohol treatment interventions.
Systematic ReviewUses of individualized client goals in the evaluation of drug and alcohol programs.
Individualized client goals can provide valuable information for evaluating drug and alcohol programs, providing a more precise measurement of success.
Observational StudyThe Alcohol Use Disorder and Associated Disabilities Interview schedule (AUDADIS): reliability of alcohol and drug modules in a general population sample.
The AUDADIS shows good to excellent reliability for measuring alcohol consumption and drug use in a general population sample, with good to excellent reliability for diagnosing alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, and heroin abuse and dependence.
Observational StudyHighly CitedEvaluation method regarding the effect of psychotropic drugs on driving performance: A literature review
Psychotropic drugs influence driving performance, but a valid evaluation method is needed to establish their reliability and validity, especially when evaluating driving simulators.
Systematic ReviewRigorous Journal