Assessment Category

Substance Use & Addiction

These assessments explore patterns related to substance use, psychological dependence, craving, risk factors, and the impact substances may have on daily life. Substance use exists on a spectrum, ranging from low-risk or social use to patterns that may lead to physical, psychological, or relational harm.

If you are unsure where to begin, these tools can help you understand your own patterns more clearly. They give you a starting point for a conversation with a provider you trust.

You do not have to complete every measure here. Choose the ones that match your concerns, and explore other categories if your use feels connected to broader mental health needs.

About This Category

You may consider this category if you:

  • Use alcohol, prescription medication, or recreational substances regularly
  • Feel you rely on substances to manage stress, mood, or sleep
  • Experience cravings or difficulty cutting back
  • Have noticed increasing tolerance
  • Are concerned about potential risk before starting certain medications
These measures do not provide a diagnosis on their own but can help clarify severity, risk, and impact.

Leeds Dependence Questionnaire (LDQ)

What This Looks At

The LDQ measures psychological dependence across substances. It focuses on loss of control, preoccupation, compulsion to use, and difficulty stopping.

You May Want To Take This If

  • Feel mentally or emotionally dependent on a substance
  • Struggle to limit use despite intentions to cut back
  • Think about using even when you are not actively using
  • Want to assess severity of dependence beyond frequency alone

You May Not Need This If

  • Your use is infrequent and without cravings or loss of control

This measure evaluates psychological dependence rather than simply how often you use.

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Penn Alcohol Craving Scale (PACS)

What This Looks At

The PACS measures the intensity and frequency of alcohol cravings over the past week.

You May Want To Take This If

  • Experience strong urges to drink
  • Are attempting to reduce or stop alcohol use
  • Want to monitor craving intensity over time

You May Not Need This If

  • You do not consume alcohol
  • You are more concerned about general alcohol risk rather than cravings specifically (see AUDIT in Core section)

This measure focuses specifically on craving rather than overall alcohol use patterns.

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Opioid Risk Tool (ORT)

What This Looks At

The ORT assesses risk factors for potential opioid misuse, including personal and family history of substance use and certain psychological risk factors.

You May Want To Take This If

  • Are being prescribed opioid medication for pain
  • Have concerns about addiction risk
  • Have a personal or family history of substance misuse

You May Not Need This If

  • You are not using or considering opioid medications

This is a risk assessment tool rather than a measure of current misuse.

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Indigenous Risk Impact Screen (IRIS)

What This Looks At

The IRIS screens for both substance use risk and associated emotional or mental health concerns. It was developed for use with Indigenous populations and considers cultural and contextual factors.

You May Want To Take This If

  • Identify as Indigenous and want a culturally informed screening tool
  • Want to assess both substance use and emotional distress together
  • Are unsure whether substance use is connected to broader mental health concerns

You May Not Need This If

  • Another substance-specific measure already addresses your concern
  • The cultural context of this measure does not apply to you

This measure integrates substance use and mental health screening within a culturally responsive framework.

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