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

What is screening trying to establish?

The Substance Misuse Screening Tool considers the answers to a number of risk factors to determine the need for any further help. These factors relate to

• The types of substance used and the way it is used - some drugs are more dangerous than others, injecting drugs is more harmful than smoking.
• The attitude of the young person towards their own substance use. Do they use substances as part of having a good time with friends or are they using to alleviate bad feelings? Does the substance use play a big part in their life?
• Other social factors relating to the substance use: are they offending to fund drug use, is it affecting their mental health.

As you use go through the process with more young people, you will become better at asking these questions, and more able to make judgements based on the answers you hear.