• Ralph Rogers, Janette Baird, Jun Kit He, Charles Adams, and Michael Mello.
• MS4 at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.
• R I Med J (2013). 2014 Feb 3; 97 (2): 42-4.

BackgroundLevel I trauma centers are required to provide screening and brief interventions for alcohol abuse. The World Health Organization (WHO) Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) is a validated screening measure for all substances of abuse. This study is the first to use the ASSIST to screen a trauma population.MethodsA cross-sectional screening study using the ASSIST was conducted which included all patients admitted to the trauma service at Rhode Island Hospital during July and August 2012 who met inclusion criteria.ResultsThe ASSIST categorized 25% of participants as needing a brief intervention for alcohol and an additional 6.3% as needing more intensive treatment. At least a brief intervention was indicated for at least one other substance besides alcohol in 37% of participants.ConclusionsThe ability of the ASSIST to identify misuse of multiple substances makes it a good candidate for the screening measure used by trauma centers.

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