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Several sources have picked up on the American Academy of Pediatrics? revised policy on teenage alcohol use. Reminding us that brains continue through the 20?s, the AAP recommend screening all young teenagers for alcohol use.
AAP assert that alcohol use and abuse by children and adolescents continue to be a major problem.
?Pediatricians should interview their patients regularly about alcohol use within the family, by friends, and by themselves. A comprehensive substance abuse curriculum should be integrated into every pediatrician's training.?
The APP also express concerns over availability of alcohol to minors, and over the advertising of alcohol in the media, on the Internet, and during sporting events.
Dr. Ken Winters, Chairman of Mentor Foundation?s Scientific Advisory Network, comments that there is help for pediatricians who want to quickly yet accurately screen for alcohol and other drug problems in their adolescent patients. A pediatrician from Harvard Medical School, Dr. John Knight has developed an office-friendly screen called the CRAFFT.
The CRAFFT is a specialized 6 item screen designed to be administered verbally during a primary care interview to address both alcohol and drug use. Its name is a mnemonic device to assist physicians to incorporate the 6 questions during their primary care exams. Based on a study in a large hospital-based adolescent clinic, scores form the CRAFFT were found to be highly correlated with scores from several existing and valid measures and a cut-off score of 2 has been found to be highly predictive of substance abuse (Knight et al., 1999; 2002; 2003). The tool has also been tested in many groups of teenagers and is associated with very favourable psychometric results.
Provided below are the 6 items on the CRAFFT. Two or more yeses is suggestive that the youth should be referred for a more comprehensive assessment of possible alcohol or other drug problems:
C: Have you ever ridden in a CAR driven by someone (including yourself) who was ?high? or had been using
alcohol or drugs?
R: Do you ever use alcohol or drugs to RELAX, feel better about yourself, or fit in?
A: Do you ever use alcohol/drugs while you are by yourself, ALONE?
F: Do your FAMILY or FRIENDS ever tell you that you should cut down on your drinking or drug use?
F: Do you ever FORGET things you did while using alcohol or drugs?
T: Have you gotten into TROUBLE while you were using alcohol or drugs?
Sources:
Knight, J.R, Sherrit, L., Harris, S.K., Gates, E.C., Chang, G. (2003). A comparison of the AUDIT, POSIT, CAGE, and CRAFFT. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 27, 67-73.
Knight, J.R, Sherrit, L., Shrier, L.A., Harris, S.K., Chang, G. (2002). Validity of the CRAFFT substance abuse screening test among adolescent clinic patients. Archives of Adolescent Medicine, 156, 607-614.
Knight, J.R., Shrier, L.A., Bravender, T.D., Farrell, M., Vanderbilt, J., Shaffer H.J. (1999). A new brief screen for adolescent substance abuse. Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, 153, 591-596.
Links:
? Alcohol Use and Abuse: A Pediatric Concern - American Academy of Pediatrics
? Group urges alcohol screening for all teens - Wasau Daily Herald
? All Kids Should Be Screened for Alcohol, Pediatricians Say - Join Together
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