SASSI Direct

In the UK, there is a wide variety of organisations using a range of treatment methods for substance misuse, based on a number of theories of causality. While this diversity promises to cater for all needs, it also poses problems in terms of evidencing the suitability of a particular goal or intervention for a particular client. This means, for example, that whilst a system of Drug Testing and Treatment Orders has been introduced to divert into treatment young offenders whose substance-related problems have led to criminal activity, in order to qualify for this disposal, the individual has to be found to be substance "dependent". Professional workers may understand "dependency" in different ways, and have different ideas about how it might be identified. At the same time, substance misusers may be unable or unwilling to acknowledge substance misuse or symptoms associated with it, or may be motivated to exaggerate their usage in order to gain some perceived advantage.

The SASSI uses an internationally recognised definition of what dependency is: the DSM IV. This is virtually indistinguishable from the definition used by the World Health Organisation, the ICD 10. During training, these two systems are compared and contrasted, and participants encouraged to adopt these world standards into their daily practice.
The Adult SASSI identifies / diagnoses substance dependence disorder according to DSM IV criteria. The Adolescent SASSI identifies a substantive classifiable substance misuse problem, and gives an indication of whether that problem is more likely to be substance dependence disorder, or substance abuse disorder (DSM IV criteria).
The SASSI is able to identify substance misusers, even if they are unwilling or unable to be forthright about their usage or associated symptoms. In this sense it can circumvent denial and highlight lack of knowledge or perceptiveness which is hindering an appreciation of the true nature of the problem.