Substance Abuse

Assess this item with reference to the youth’s most recent past.  Most often questions should be assessed on the last 6 to 12 month time period.

  1. Occasional drug use:  Check this item if there is evidence that the youth is an occasional user of one or more illicit drugs. Check this item if the youth’s drug use is not currently a problem (i.e. the youth is a controlled and infrequent user). This includes improper use of prescription drugs.  Do not check this item if the youth has not used drugs for more than one year. Experimental use does not count as occasional drug use.  Do not count use of alcohol or tobacco.
  2. Chronic drug use:  Check this item if there is evidence that the youth is a consistent user of one or more illicit drugs.  This includes improper use of prescription drugs.  Check this item if the youth has been using drugs twice a week or more over the last year and/or has a drug related problem in at least one major life area (drug-related arrests, employment or education problems, or problems with family regarding use). This is a default item.  If this item is checked, then item 5A must also be checked.
  3. Chronic alcohol use:  Check this item if there is evidence that the youth is a consistent user of alcoholic beverages. Check this item if the youth has been using alcohol more than three times a week and has problems in more than one major life area (e.g., passing out, drink-related arrests, employment or education problems, or family or social problems).
  4. Substance abuse interferes with life:  Check this item if the youth’s drug and/or alcohol use affects the youth’s physical or social functioning.  This includes the missing of school or work, family problems as a result of substance use and other interferences with life as a result of drug/alcohol use.
  5. Substance use linked to offense(s):  Check this item if there is reason to believe the youth’s criminal activity is related to drug or alcohol USE.  This should be checked if the youth was under the influence at the time of the offense or was using the offense to obtain drugs or alcohol.  If the youth is only in trouble for trafficking and the offense is not related to the use of substances (i.e. trafficking), this item should not be checked.

(03-2007)