Screening for Mental Health Launches New Screening for National Alcohol Screening Day, April 7

WELLESLEY HILLS, Mass., April 4, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Screening for Mental Health (SMH), the pioneer in large-scale mental health screenings for the public, today announced that it has launched a new screening to detect potential signs and symptoms of substance abuse as part of its offering for National Alcohol Screening Day, held on April 7th.

The annual screening and education day raises awareness about alcohol and substance use disorders, while providing the public with screening and treatment resources. To help individuals assess their drinking and substance use patterns, SMH is promoting www.HowDoYouScore.org, an online resource that offers anonymous screenings for alcohol and substance use as well as resources for treatment and recovery.

According to a recent study by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, four percent of Americans met the criteria for a drug use disorder in the past year and about 10 percent have had a drug use disorder at some point in their lives. The new screening, the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST), was developed by the World Health Organization and screens for tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, amphetamine type stimulants, inhalants, sedatives, hallucinogens and opioid use. The new screening complements SMH's existing Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) by adding another measure for individuals to be screened for substance use, including alcohol.

"We introduced the new screening recognizing the need for people to identify early symptoms of substance and alcohol use disorders," said Douglas G. Jacobs, M.D., associate clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and founder and medical director of Screening for Mental Health. "These disorders often go untreated and co-occur with common mental health disorders. National Alcohol Screening Day raises awareness for this issue and connects those that may be struggling with alcohol or substance use with quality local treatment options."

To take an anonymous and free screening online, visit www.HowDoYouScore.org.

About Screening for Mental Health

Screening for Mental Health, Inc. (SMH), the pioneer of large-scale mental health screening for the public, provides innovative mental health and substance use resources, linking those in need with quality treatment options. SMH programs, offered online and in-person, educate, raise awareness, and screen individuals common mental and behavioral health disorders and suicide. Thousands of organizations worldwide utilize our educational and screening programs, and in turn, have reached millions of people ranging from teenagers to adults.

SOURCE Screening for Mental Health

Related Links

http://www.HowDoYouScore.org