Hi there. Our team prefers qualitative interviews to conduct program evaluation, instead of too many numbers. Currently, we are looking for a tool for evaluating substance use. Would you please kindly give me a clue?

No worries.

Thanks for the information.

The Addiction Severity Index (ASI) is a semi-structured interview designed to collect important information about aspects of a client’s life that might have contributed to their psychoactive substance use. It is an assessment tool widely used in the evaluation of substance abuse treatment. This tool could serve as a guidance instrument in treatment planning. This instrument is an interview process that assesses the history, frequency, and consequences of alcohol and drug use. The interview takes about an hour and covers seven potential problem areas or domains, namely:
• medical status
• employment/support status
• alcohol
• drugs
• legal status
• family/social status
• psychiatric status

The ASI questions focus on two distinct periods: the past 30 days and lifetime. Items covering the previous 30 days are sensitive to change and are therefore the main questions asked at follow-up interviews. The lifetime questions are largely omitted at follow-up and because of this, follow-up ASI interviews are usually briefer (about 20 minutes) than baseline interviews. Moreover, follow-up interviews are doable over the phone or in person, whereas baseline (or intake) interviews must be done in person. Further information on the ASI can be obtained at: http://www.tresearch.org/resources/instruments.htm