Substance use screening tools may be used by healthcare, mental health, school-based health, and other appropriately trained professionals to identify youth who may be using alcohol, nicotine, cannabis, or other substances and determine when brief intervention or further assessment may be needed. Screening does not establish a substance use disorder diagnosis.
CRAFFT 2.1 / CRAFFT 2.1+N
A brief, validated screening tool designed to identify substance use, substance-related riding/driving risk, and possible substance use disorder in adolescents and young adults. The 2.1+N version also includes nicotine screening.
Ages: 12–21
Completed by: Youth self-report or clinician interview
Time: a few minutes
Languages: Multiple translations are available.
Note: CRAFFT is free for clinical use, but reproduction requirements apply. The official CRAFFT site provides current forms and instructions.
NIAAA Alcohol Screening and Brief Intervention for Youth
A brief youth alcohol-screening approach paired with risk-level guidance and recommendations for brief intervention, follow-up, and referral.
Clinical Guidance
AAP – Substance Use and Prevention
Clinical guidance and practical resources for screening youth for substance use, providing brief intervention, supporting prevention, and connecting adolescents with treatment when indicated. AAP recommends validated tools such as CRAFFT, S2BI, and BSTAD for adolescent and young-adult screening.
SAMHSA – Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT)
Information and implementation resources for the SBIRT model: universal screening, brief intervention for individuals at risk, and referral to treatment when more intensive services are needed.
