In this section

• What is screening?
• Why screen young people for
  substance misuse?
• Screening Vulnerable Groups
• When should you use the screening tool?
• How should screening happen?
• What is screening trying to establish?
• Outcomes of screening

	Myth You cannot do anything until a young person admits they have a substance misuse problem. Reality Wrong! You will go blue in the face trying to get most young people to admit they are an 'addict' even if they have serious problems. You can however take action to reduce harm and find solutions to problems of housing, physical health, mental health, education and employment etc. Along the way you might be able to point out how the substance misuse is contributing to some of the young person's problems.

How should screening happen?

Always remember you are the one who has the skills and abilities to communicate with young people on a one to one basis. It is your skills that will help you talk to the young person and help establish if they are experiencing difficulties. You do not need in depth, specialised knowledge about substance misuse, you just need to be able to ask a few simple questions and be able to listen.

A few basic principles to remember are:

• Pick a time that is appropriate
• Use a private location wherever possible
• Don't do it when parents are present, or with groups as the answers will be influenced by the audience.
• Be sensitive to the young person's culture, ethnicity, sexuality, gender and age.
• Explain that the reason for screening is to find out whether the young person might need any help for a health need, not to get information to pass to the police/parents/school, or to discipline the young person.
• Explain about confidentiality right from the start.
• Complete the substance misuse screening tool form collaboratively with the young person. Be prepared to prompt or explain anything.
• The screening tool is designed to be effective even if just completed in a 'tick box' way. However, you will get a better result if you are able to talk around the questions.
• The substance use should always be looked at in the context of other things known about the child or young person.
• You shouldn't try to force a young person to engage with the process.
• Get hold of some leaflets or information beforehand to get the conversation started, or to give out as part of the session.

Think in advance about what you might do if:

• The young person doesn't want to engage with the process but you still have a number of concerns.The young person tells you something you didn't expect to hear.
• The young person asks you if you've ever been drunk or taken substances.
• The young person tells you something you don't understand or haven't heard of before.
• You think the young person is in immediate danger.