Detecting “Faking good” with the Adolescent Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory-SASSI-A3: A Clinical Response to Alcohol & Other Drug Use Minimization among Teens

ABSTRACT

This article reviews one aspect of the clinical findings of a “fake-good data set” of the SASSI Institute’s forthcoming third iteration of the Adolescent Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory (SASSI-A3). We are evaluating new items for inclusion in the SASSI-A3 to address emerging issues and contemporary trends; comparison of honest and “fake” responses from participants with known Substance Use Disorders (SUDs), and in order to validate the instrument’s efficacy identifying likely SUD profiles when respondents do not fully acknowledge substance misuse. Such respondent drug use pattern minimization is known as “faking-good.” This is the first in a series of reports comprising a validation study by the SASSI Institute to monitor the concordance and accuracy of the adolescent SASSI substance use screening measure against DSM-5 criteria for diagnosing SUDs. Providing screening and assessment professionals appropriate scale scores to identify defensive client responses, or attempts to minimize disclosure of substance abuse, can inform subsequent clinical interviews. These scale scores will assist professionals with treatment planning, enhancing treatment placement and related conditions.

KEYWORDS:

• Faking good
• substance use disorders
• DSM-5
• adolescent drug use minimization
• subtle screening
• SASSI

Acknowledgments

Dr. Nelson Jose Tiburcio is the Principal Investigator of the Adolescent (SASSI-A3) Validation Study and CEO of The SASSI Institute. Scarlett Baker is Project Director of the Adolescent Validation Study and Training Director at The SASSI Institute. Matt Hanauer, MPA, is a Research Analyst at Centerstone’s Research Institute and served as the study’s statistical consultant. We wish to thank Tom Cox, LAC, for his outstanding assistance with this research endeavor, as well as his long-standing commitment and dedication to The SASSI Institute. We also wish to thank the following individuals: David Helton, LCSW, LCDC, Training and Clinical Consultant at The SASSI Institute for data collection; Kristin Kimmell, LCSW, LCAC, Clinical Director at The SASSI Institute, for reviews of earlier drafts and helpful comments; Dr. Linda Lazowski, former Research Director at The SASSI Institute, for assistance in developing data collection procedures and consent forms; and Lauren Nelson, SASSI Institute Executive Assistant and IT Specialist, for her assistance in compiling the data.

Disclosure statement

Corresponding author is the Chief Executive Officer at the SASSI Institute. Second author is Director of Training at the SASSI Institute.