Use of the Adolescent SASSI in a Juvenile Correctional Setting

Abstract

The Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory-Adolescent (SASSI-A) is used in evaluation and treatment planning for incarcerated juveniles. Validity of the SASSI-A in a juvenile correctional facility was examined using archival data. Findings generally support the validity of SASSI-A substance use scales. However, there is concern regarding the potential for ethnic bias in this setting. Cut-scores suggest that the SASSI-A may best be used for detecting problematic alcohol consumption using the Face Valid Alcohol Scale ≥ 3. Future studies should more closely investigate whether the three underlying dimensions of the SASSI-A are useful in treatment planning. Results are presented in light of the relatively new SASSI-A2. Keywordsadolescents; delinquents; substance abuse; ethnic/racial bias; incarceration The Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory (SASSI), SASSI-2, SASSI-3, Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory-Adolescent (SASSI-A), and SASSI-A2 (Miller, 1985(Miller, , 1990(Miller, , 1994Miller & Lazowski, 2001;Miller, Roberts, Brooks, & Lazowski, 1997) were designed to detect acknowledged as well as unacknowledged substance abuse. The adolescent SASSI may be useful in juvenile correctional settings where there is much need for accurate and efficient assessment of substance abuse. Such assessment allows for economic allocation of resources and identification of treatment needs. Scales exist that may be of use in detecting depression and suicide risk (e.g., the Defensiveness Scale [DEF]; see Bauman, Merta, & Steiner, 1999; U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 1995) and in detecting recidivism (e.g., the Correctional Scale [COR]; see Myerholtz & Rosenberg, 1997 and suicide risk, as well as potential recidivists, is relevant in juvenile forensic settings. Although the adolescent SASSI may be ideally suited for incarcerated juveniles, little independent research has been conducted to date on its use specifically in juvenile correctional settings.Rogers and Kelly (1997) outlined several concerns regarding versions of the SASSI. They indicated that although the original validation of the SASSI offered promising results, the subscales of the SASSI and the decision rules for determining problematic substance use likely represent an overfitting of the data. Similarly, other researchers have found that adult versions of the SASSI have limited psychometric properties and ability to identify problematic substance use (see Clements, 2000;Myerholtz & Rosenberg, 1997;Svanum & McGrew, 1995;Teslak, 2000). On the other hand, Schwartz (1998), in collaboration with the SASSI Institute, found that the SASSI-2 effectively identifies substance abuse and prior criminal involvement. In addition, Lazowski, Miller, Boye, and Miller (1998) studied almost 2,000 participants and found sensitivity and specificity of .97 and .95, respectively.The SASSI-A (Miller, 1990) was designed for use with adolescents. Original validation (Miller, 1990) indicated promising results in the correct classification of substance-dependent...

Family and Peer Influences on Substance Attitudes and Use among Juvenile Justice-Involved Youth

“…For the present study, raw scores on the SASSI-A2 scales were converted to t-scores with scores of 50, 60, and 70 representing the 50 th , 85 th , and 98 th percentiles of scores among youth of the same gender, respectively. On the FVA, T-scores > 63 (males) and > 65 (females) are indicative of high probability of an SUD; on the FVOD, T-scores > 58 (males) and > 60 (females) are indicative of high probability of an SUD ).The SASSI-A2 FVA and FVOD scales have demonstrated acceptable to excellent reliability (alpha=0.61 and 0.95, respectively; Perera-Diltz & Perry, 2011) and test-retest reliability (r's 0.71and 0.92, respectively; Stein et al, 2005).…”

PTSD Symptoms Mediate the Relationship Between Sexual Abuse and Substance Use Risk in Juvenile Justice–Involved Youth

“…Results are provided as t -scores based on norms derived from an adolescent sample (mean age = 15, SD = 1.9) across addiction treatment centers, inpatient psychiatric hospitals, outpatient behavioral health facilities, and juvenile corrections programs. The SASSI-A2 FVA and FVOD scales have demonstrated acceptable to excellent reliability (alpha=0.61 and 0.95, respectively; Perera-Diltz & Perry, 2011) and test-retest reliability ( r’s 0 .71- and 0.92, respectively; Miller & Lazowski, 2001; Stein et al, 2005).…”

Alcohol misuse among adolescents with BPD symptoms: exploring the moderating role of reasons for drinking and perceived coping skills in a clinical adolescent sample

“…and 'gotten sick from drinking?' Accuracy of detection of substance use disorders ranges from 72% to 90% across multiple studies (Stein et al, 2005). Internal consistency coefficients range from .61 to .95, and test-retest reliability coefficients range from .71 to .92 (Miller, Renn, & Lazowski, 2001).…”

“…Participants indicated how often they experienced alcohol‐related situations during the 6 months prior to their hospitalization. Response options range from 0 (Never) to 3 (four or more times), and sample questions include ‘...drank during the day?’ and ‘gotten sick from drinking?’ Accuracy of detection of substance use disorders ranges from 72% to 90% across multiple studies (Stein et al, 2005). Internal consistency coefficients range from .61 to .95, and test–retest reliability coefficients range from .71 to .92 (Miller, Renn, & Lazowski, 2001).…”