To foster the implementation of integrated approaches for New York State residents with co-occurring mental health and substance abuse conditions.

Target Areas - Screening

Screening Image

Screening is a formal process of testing to determine whether or not a person has a disorder that warrants further attention at the time of testing and, within this context, to determine whether or not a co-occurring substance use or mental disorder may be present. The Commissioners of New York State’s Office of Mental Health (OMH) and Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) have underscored their support for statewide screening to identify persons with co-occurring disorder, noting that, unless both conditions are detected and treated effectively, recovery from either is unlikely. Part of CEIC’s mission is to help providers to implement appropriate screening practices.

Screening

In a letter to the Directors of OMH- and OASAS-licensed clinics, Commissioners Michael Hogan (OMH), and Karen Carpenter-Palumbo (OSASA) strongly encouraged all clinics to screen their clients for co-occurring substance use (in mental health clinics) or mental disorders (in substance abuse clinics). CEIC is available to assist providers to select a viable instrument and to implement its use.

New York State recommends six instruments, three for OASAS clinics–

  • the Modified Mini Screen (MMS)
  • the Mental Health Screening Form III (MHSF-III)
  • the Kessler K6 screener

and three for OMH clinics –

  • the Modified Simple Screening Instrument for Substance Abuse (MSSI-SA)
  • the CAGE-Adapted to Include Drugs (CAGE-AID)
  • the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST v3)

CEIC Experience in New York State – Almost all programs have, as a minimum, a routine set of standard interview questions designed to screen for the co-occurring disorder, and many use a standardized formal screening instrument with established psychometric properties. CEIC site visits and Building Capability Forums help providers to select and begin using a State-recommended screener, if one of the recommended instruments is not already in use.

Letter to the Directors of OMH- And OASAS-Licensed Clinics

OMH / OASAS COD Documents (all; letter & screening guide only;)

Commissioners’ letter and Guidance documents for Co-occurring Disorders sent to the Directors of all NYS OMH- and OASAS-licensed clinics

Commissioners’ letter and COD Screening Guide for OMH- and OASAS-licensed clinic Directors

CEIC Clinical Pathways Resource Guide (all; Screening section only)

Entire CEIC Clinical Pathways Resource Guide

Screening Section of the CEIC Clinical Pathways Resource Guide

CEIC FAQS About Screening

CEIC Screening Package (all; for OASAS clinics; for OMH clinics)

Entire CEIC Screening Package

CEIC Screening Package for OASAS Clinics

CEIC Screening Package for OMH Clinics

CEIC Screening Instruments Only (for OASAS clinics; for OMH clinics)

3 Screening instruments recommended for OASAS Clinics

3 Screening instruments recommended for OMH Clinics

Contact Info

General /
Technical Assistance

Michael Chaple, Ph.D.
Project Coordinator
(212) 845-4539
chaple@ndri.org

Related Links

OMH-OASAS COD Package

Commissioners’ letter to Clinic Directors & NYS Guidelines for COD

OASAS & OMH Screening Package

Letter and Guidance

Commissioners’ Letter

OASAS & OMH Guidance for COD Screening

CEIC Clinical Pathways Resource Guide

This document is intended to provide basic guidance for counselors working with people with co-occurring conditions (July 1, 2009 v4).

CEIC Clinical Pathways Resource Guide

Screening Section

Screening FAQs

CEIC Screening Packages

Download Package - Letter, Guidelines & Instruments

For Both OMH & OASAS Clinics

For OMH Clinics

For OASAS Clinics

NYS Recommended Instruments

For OMH Clinics

For OASAS Clinics