CRAFFT Screening Tool

What Is A CRAFFT Screening Tool?

Substance abuse in adolescents is a severe issue that can lead to long-term health and social consequences. It impacts the teen's physical and emotional health and can affect their relationships, academic performance, and future prospects.

Developed at the Center for Adolescent Substance Abuse Research at the Boston Children’s Hospital, The is a practical test to help diagnose potential substance abuse in adolescents. It consists of six questions to help identify the severity of a young person’s substance use.

The acronym CRAFFT stands for:

C – Have you ever ridden in a Car driven by someone (including yourself) who was “high” or had been using alcohol or drugs?

R – Do you ever use alcohol or drugs to Relax, feel better about yourself, or fit in?

A – Do you ever use alcohol or drugs while you are Alone?

F – Do you ever forget things you did while using alcohol or drugs?

F – Do your family or friends ever tell you that you should cut down on your drinking or drug use?

T – Have you ever gotten into Trouble while you were using alcohol or drugs?

It is recommended that adolescents who answer “yes” to two or more of the questions above be assessed further by a healthcare professional.

How To Use This CRAFFT Screening Tool

This free CRAFFT tool is fully digital and straightforward. Here are the steps to use it:

Step One: Access the free test

Download the CRAFFT Screening Tool using the link on the page. You can also get in on your Carepatron app or the resources library.

Step Two: Explain the assessment to your patient

Explain to the patient what the CRAFFT Screening Tool is and its purpose. Ensure they understand that their responses will be kept confidential and that the results will help them get the appropriate help they may need.

Step Three: Administer the test

Walk your patient through the six questions of the test. Have them answer each one honestly and record their responses.

Step Four: Interpret the results

Once your patient has answered all the questions, you can interpret their responses. If two or more of the answers are “yes, " you need to refer the patient to a healthcare professional for further assessment and treatment.

Step Four: Keep the assessment safe

Make sure to keep the assessment in a safe place. This step is important for medical record-keeping and documenting risk or potential substance abuse cases.

When Would You Typically Use This CRAFFT Screening Tool?

The CRAFFT Screening Tool is helpful for primary care physicians, counselors, and other healthcare providers dealing with adolescent patients. It can also be used to:

Identify adolescents at risk for substance abuse

The CRAFFT can help detect adolescents at risk of substance abuse, allowing you to take appropriate steps for prevention or treatment.

Monitor a patient’s progress in treatment

You can use the CRAFFT to track a patient’s progress in substance abuse treatment and gauge the effectiveness of interventions. You can then adapt and adjust your approaches for better outcomes.

Assess the severity of a patient’s substance abuse issue

By looking at a patient’s responses to the CRAFFT, you can assess the severity of their substance abuse issue and determine whether further action is needed.

Screen for alcohol and drug use disorders

With this tool, you can more easily and quickly identify potential alcohol or drug use disorders. This can help you make the proper recommendations for your patient's treatment.

Who Can Use these Printable CRAFFT Screening Tools?

The CRAFFT Screening Tool is a handy assessment that can be used by:

• Primary care physicians
• Counselors
• General practitioners
• Parents of adolescents
• Social workers
• Teachers/Educators
• Other healthcare providers who deal with adolescent patients

Why Is This Assessment Popular With General Practitioners?

The CRAFFT Screening Tool is a popular assessment because it is simple. General practitioners and other healthcare professionals typically use this tool because:

It provides valuable insights into adolescents’ mental health and substance use

The CRAFFT can help detect adolescents at risk of substance abuse so that you can take the necessary steps for prevention or treatment.

It can be a starting point for conversations about sensitive topics

It facilitates discussions between healthcare professionals and adolescents about substance use, making it easier for the patient to open up about the issue. It allows for a better assessment of the severity of a patient’s substance abuse issue.

It is easy to understand and use

The CRAFFT Screening Tool provides clear guidance on how to assess adolescents. A variety of healthcare professionals can easily understand it.

Benefits Of Free CRAFFT Screening Tool

This free CRAFFT Screening Tool can help you identify adolescents at risk for substance abuse and assess the severity of their issues. Several of its benefits also include:

Fully digital

This CRAFFT Screening Tool is fully digital and can be used online. This makes it easier to use since you don’t have to print it out.

Time-saving

The CRAFFT Screening Tool is time-efficient and can save time in assessing adolescents at risk of substance abuse.

Efficiently administered

The CRAFFT can be quickly and efficiently administered, which makes it an excellent resource for healthcare professionals. You can quickly identify any potential substance abuse issues in your patients.

Non-invasive

Because it does not rely on invasive techniques, the CRAFFT can be efficiently administered to adolescents and provide reliable results.

Reference

Center for Adolescent Substance Abuse Research. (2021). CRAFFT 2.1 – Screening Tool for Adolescents in Clinical Settings: Clinician Version [PDF]. Retrieved from https://crafft.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/CRAFFT_2

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