Screening Information
We have tools to support each interaction level as well as assessment tools, templates and best practice guidelines.
Click on the titles and images to access resources:
SACS Resources:
Other Screening & Assessment Resources:
• Targeted Screening tools for mental health, addiction and gambling
• Comprehensive Assessment Templates
Screening
Screening and/or assessment are usually the ‘first contact’ a young person and their family/whānau may have with services. It is often the most important and effective intervention practitioners will provide.
There are three levels of first interaction that can be utilised with young people depending on their presentation, the services they present too and the time and skills/knowledge available.
Screening: Substances And Choices Scale (SACS) and more
Screening usually involves administering a brief questionnaire. The object of screening is to identify potential areas for further assessment. It is often the starting point of further work and should be a key part of an enhanced response for young people presenting with mental health and addiction issues.
Full Screening and Brief Intervention: The Substances and Choices Scale (SACS)
The Substances and Choices Scale (SACS) was developed in New Zealand and validated for use with adolescents aged 13-20 years.
What is SACS?
- A one-page self-report questionnaire you do with a young person.
- Designed and tested in kiwi youth.
- Screens AOD use and related harms, problems and risks.
- Engages young people to think and talk about their substance use.
- Scores the young person's responses to let them and you know where they sit compared to other kiwi youth.
- Designed to aid in the provision of feedback, brief AOD advice and referring on when warranted.
- Increases engagement in referral vs screening alone.
Links to SACS resources follow:
- SACS Website - with questionnaires and guides
What is the SACS ABC approach?
SACS has been adapted specifically for brevity and to align with the well-known ABC approach for smoking cessation and alcohol. Based on The SACS Brief Intervention above. The resources incorporate the Substances and Choices Scale (SACS), a youth AOD (alcohol and other drug) screening instrument developed and tested in New Zealand (Christie et al., 2007). SAC ABC is a resource for youth mental health and addiction workers, designed and promoted by Werry Workforce Whāraurau (Christie, 2010).
A: Ask
Administer SACS Screening, review and score (Go to eSACS form)
B: Brief Advice
Deliver Feedback and brief advice (Go to AOD Youth Brief Cards)
C: Counselling
Referral for Counselling /Treatment (Go to Service Providers Directory: www.addictionshelp.org.nz/directory )
A simple and effective easy memory aid to screen youth for problematic AOD use and provide brief personally-relevant AOD interventions.
As part of the SACS ABC an electronic version of the SACS (E-SACS) is available.
- Substances and Choices Scale ABC Brief Intervention Manual
- Desktop poster that provides a quick reference to the SACS intervention which includes Harm Reduction strategies
Email: [email protected]
SACS ABC Video Guide
SACS ABC Brief Intervention
This video is a demonstration of an AOD worker utilising the SACS Brief Intervention with a young person. This clip illustrates how to utilise the SACS Brief Intervention tool. It should be watched in conjunction with the SACS resources and information available here.
This video is a demonstration of an AOD worker utilising the SACS Brief Intervention with a young person. This clip illustrates how to utilise the SACS Brief Intervention tool. It should be watched in conjunction with the SACS resources and information available here.
Further Addiction Screening Tools
There are a number of free screening tools available to access for addiction and mental health issues.
For more information please access Werry Workforce Whāraurau CEP and Youth eLearning - screening and brief intervention module.
Screening Tools

Alcohol Use
- Alcohol, Smoking Substance Involvement Screening Test (Assist) for Youth
- Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT - Drinkcheck)
Smoking / Nicotine
Gambling
Mental Health
- Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (NZ)
- Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire Scoring (NZ)
- The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) (KESSLER-10) (USA)
- The Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (SMFQ) (USA)
Depression and Anxiety screening websites
- Lowdown.co.nz (NZ)
Brief Assessment
The HEEADSSS Assessment Tool
For those working in the primary care and youth health settings, a good place to start with Brief Assessment is using the HEEADSSS Assessment:
(Home, Education, Eating, Activities, Drugs and alcohol, Suicide and depression, Sexuality and Safety)
Recommended as a simple but thorough framework which allows for early identification of mental health, alcohol and other drug (AOD) issues and other information to assist young people in their development.
- The HEEADSSS Assessment: example questions
- Free Online Training: An Introduction to the HEEADSSS Assessment framework
(via the Werry Workforce Whāraurau eSkills resource)

Comprehensive Assessment
Comprehensive Assessments may be carried out in different ways, depending on the setting and available resources. Assessment forms can prompt clinicians conducting an assessment to obtain information under specific categories, which can be useful in terms of providing a worker with reminders and ensuring no omissions
When completing a comprehensive assessment there are a number of domains that need to be explored. It is helpful to have a structure to the assessment to ensure all information and areas are discussed.
Below are two format examples of a Comprehensive Assessment and Management plan. We acknowledge Altered High, Auckland and Youth Specialty Services, Christchurch for the adapted version of their Comprehensive assessment forms.
- Youth Assessment
- Comprehensive Assessment - This is suitable for those working across CEP services and specialist AOD/CAMHS
- Werry Workforce Whāraurau CEP & Youth eLearning: Module 7: Assessment
- AOD Assessment Cards (Sorted)
These cards were designed by Sorted (Youth AOD services, Bay of Plenty District Health Board) and are used to help inform a comprehensive Youth AOD/CEP assessment completed with a young person. They help to gather information regarding a young person’s history of substance use, problems caused by their use, protective factors, risk factors and thinking/motivation regarding change. They are interactive, non-threatening and incorporate humour and youth-friendly images. These cards have also been translated into Te Reo Māori.
Best Practice Guidance