The substance abuse subtle screening inventory is more cost effective and has better selectivity than urine toxicology for the detection of substance abuse in pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the SASSI as a screen for substance abuse in pregnancy with the patient history and toxicology screening.


METHODS
On 560 patients the substance abuse history and urine toxicology was obtained at registration in the prenatal clinic. Each patient also completed the SASSI questionnaire. The SASSI was compared with each screen individually and the result of the SASSI and the patient's history were combined for comparison with the toxicology results.


RESULTS
SASSI was found to be more selective as a screen for substance abuse than urine toxicology and it gave a profile of alcohol use which was absent on the toxicology screen.


CONCLUSIONS
The SASSI is a more effective clinical tool for identifying substance abuse and more cost effective than toxicology screening.
Horrigan
T J
TJ
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical College of Ohio 43699-0008, USA.
Piazza
N J
NJ
Weinstein
L
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D011247:Pregnancy; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014556:Urine / Q000737:chemistry*