The SASSI is a powerful tool in identifying substance abuse and substance dependence disorders, and it is important that the person carrying out the assessment understands the concepts of abuse and dependence and their significance. The use of the SASSI for pre-employment screening is not sanctioned by the SASSI Institute in the US or by SASSI Direct in the UK.

However, in circumstances where there is reasonable cause to believe that an existing employee may have an alcohol or drug problem, the SASSI can be an invaluable resource, especially when the employee involved is unwilling or unable to acknowledge substance misuse or symptoms associated with it. Especially useful in conjunction with a robust substance misuse policy, the SASSI can add weight and objectivity to an in-house or agency assessment, and can serve to remove suspicions of prejudice or partiality. It has never been successfully challenged in a court of law.

The SASSI can also help in the process of care planning, in that the nature and severity of the problem tends to determine the most appropriate goal, and the psychological profile can help in decisions about whether brief interventions, high intensity structured residential interventions, or weekly advice, information and counselling sessions are more appropriate. From the employer’s point of view, this can help to identify the anticipated length of any treatment programme, whether or not there is a waiting time to assessment or entry into a particular agency, and whether or not they should expect total abstinence or, on the other hand, a more responsible attitude to drinking, at the end of the intervention.

The SASSI can be incorporated into reports for employment records or Industrial Tribunals, and practitioners who train in the use of the SASSI can opt to have report writing incorporated into a Part 2 training session. The SASSI is used throughout the English speaking world, in employment, treatment, criminal justice and social work settings.

The SASSI is being adopted by an increasing number of prestigious assessment and treatment agencies and by employers in the UK, in both safety-critical and non-safety critical industries.