Author: The SASSI Institute

Happy New Year from The SASSI Institute!

As we usher in another year, we at The SASSI Institute want to take a moment to reflect on the progress we’ve made together and share our excitement for the opportunities ahead. The start of a new year is not only a time for celebration but also a time to recommit ourselves to our mission of providing valid and reliable tools to support professionals in the substance use addiction field.

Whether you’re a seasoned professional or new to the field, we invite you to join us in making 2025 a year of impact and innovation. Stay connected by following us on our social media channels, attending our training workshops, participating in our free online clinical Q&A sessions, and sharing your insights with us.

Together, we can continue to build a future where every individual struggling with substance use receives the care and support they deserve. Let’s make this year one to remember—for all the right reasons.

Wishing you a prosperous and fulfilling 2025,

The SASSI Institute Team

Skillfully Using the SASSI

We want clinicians to find the SASSI to be helpful in their work in a way that enables them to affect the lives of their clients in a positive manner.

When a client is unable to acknowledge (sincerely deluded) or unwilling to accept they may have a problem, a clinician’s skillful and caring feedback on SASSI results may help break through those barriers and enable the client to take the courageous step toward recovery.

If you would like to learn more about clinically interpreting SASSI profiles, we encourage you to join us for one of Clinical Interpretation trainings. For more information on live, on-demand, and in-person workshops, please visit https://sassi.com/sassi-training/

Free assistance interpreting SASSI results is available M-F 1-5 pm ET at 800.726-0526 Option 2.

Understanding SASSI Scales

Participants in our Clinical Interpretation (Session 2) of SASSI Training learn about screening and assessment information; giving client feedback; and practice interpretation using SASSI profiles. Upon completion of the session, participants should feel comfortable making clinical interpretations from both the adult SASSI-4 & adolescent SASSI-A3 scales and using the SASSI to engage the client in the treatment process.

Feedback to clients on SASSI profiles is useful in increasing awareness, eliciting further information, and establishing rapport. Presenting the results of the decision rules and discussing scale scores can help people come to grips with the significance of their substance usage and identify treatment goals.

The following is a link to a handout provided in the Clinical Interpretation Session that you are welcome to download for reference when interpreting profile: SASSI SCALES: CLINICAL FEEDBACK.

We encourage you to attend the Clinical Interpretation Session 2 of SASSI training if you have not already and to utilize our free Clinical phone line for consultation and help interpreting profiles at 800.726.0526 Option 2.

The Need for and Usefulness of the SASSI

Substance use disorders cause problems for countless individuals and society as a whole. Alcohol and drug abuse often underlie difficulties presented as emotional, medical, family, school, or legal problems. These problems are not likely to be resolved until the underlying substance use problem is dealt with. Yet many affected individuals are unable or unwilling to acknowledge their misuse of psychoactive substances, and many human service providers lack the resources to conduct comprehensive diagnostic assessments for substance use disorders on every client in their practices.

Dr. Glenn A. Miller developed the SASSI in response to the need for a screening measure that could identify individuals with a high probability of having a substance use disorder, even if those individuals do not acknowledge substance misuse or symptoms associated with it.

The SASSI is brief, easy to administer, and objectively scored. A client can answer the questionnaire in less than fifteen minutes. The SASSI can be scored and interpreted in a minute or two.

Thus, clients with a high probability of having a substance use disorder can be identified and helped by employee assistance programs, vocational counselors, psychotherapists, medical personnel, criminal justice programs, and other human service providers.

The SASSI is used by human service practitioners throughout the United States and Canada, as well as other countries and is used to help over a million people every year. For information on the accuracy of our screening tools please visit https://sassi.com/reliability-validity/.

Extracted from: 
Lazowski, L. E., Kimmell, K.S., & Baker, S.L. (2016). The Adult Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory-4 (SASSI-4) User Guide & Manual. Springville, IN: The SASSI Institute. 

Navigating Change: A Minimal Price Increase at The SASSI Institute

In the dynamic landscape of addiction screening, assessment and intervention, The SASSI Institute remains dedicated to providing high-quality, reliable tools to professionals across the globe. As we continue to enhance our services and maintain the highest standards, we must occasionally adjust our pricing. Today, we want to discuss a 2025 minimal price increase for our products and services and how it will impact our valued clients.

Why the Increase?

The decision to implement a price increase is never taken lightly. Our commitment to delivering top-notch screening tools is unwavering, and maintaining this level of excellence requires ongoing investment. Here are the primary reasons behind this change:

  1. Continuing Research and Development:
    • Continuous improvement of our screening tools and delivery options to ensure they remain at the cutting edge of addiction science.
    • Investment in new technologies and methodologies to enhance the accuracy and reliability of our screening tools and services.
  2. Operational Costs:
    • Increases in costs for materials, production, and distribution.
    • Investments in better infrastructure to support seamless customer experiences.

We understand that any change in pricing can raise concerns, especially in fields where budgets are often tight. Therefore, we have made every effort to keep this increase minimal and manageable. Please note that as an added consideration we have chosen to forego any increase to our online training platforms. The adjustment to our Paper & Pencil and SASSI Online options resulted in a nominal average increase of 5%.

At The SASSI Institute, our mission is to support you in your vital work of screening, assessing and treating addiction. This minimal price increase is a step toward ensuring that we can continue to innovate, improve, and deliver the highest quality tools and services, as we continue to collaborate with you. We stand behind you in our mutual resolve that Early Intervention Saves Lives. We appreciate your understanding and continued trust in our products. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of those affected by addiction.

Change, while sometimes challenging, is often necessary for growth and improvement. The SASSI Institute remains steadfast in our dedication to providing exceptional tools and services. Thank you for your continued support and partnership.

Sincerely,

The SASSI Institute Team

2025 Product Sheet

Introducing Our New Clinical Director

We wanted to take this opportunity to introduce our new Clinical Director, Mr. David Helton, LMSW, LCDC. David has worked in the behavioral health field in Texas for over 35 years as a clinician, a manager, division director, trainer, an evaluator, a program developer, and a grant writer/reviewer. In addition to training on the SASSI for over 30 years, David has been a member of the SASSI Clinical Team for the last several years assisting on the clinical helpline. David is a passionate and caring individual that brings a vast wealth of understanding of the initiates, correlates and consequences of substance use disorder. But in addition; he is a marvelous communicator able to disseminate complex theoretical paradigms into readily understandable language, which simultaneously assists providers with the sometimes-nuanced interpretations of SASSI clinical results.

Please join us at The SASSI Institute in welcoming David in taking on his new role. We are thrilled to have him continuing collaborations with the SASSI team.

Local Encounters with Those Facing Extreme Poverty

A young man asking me to call an ambulance because he was experiencing snakes biting him. The paramedics came and were wonderfully caring and gentle with him.

A man I’ve known for more than a decade who regularly volunteers and gives money to us. He also struggles with a severe mental illness that’s usually managed well with medication. But unfortunately, he’s become homeless and is living out of a van.

Another man struggling to find a safe place for himself and his wife. She’s dealing with some severe disabilities and needs nursing home care, but they’re struggling to find a place that takes their health insurance (we’re working on that). They’ve been together for 30 years.

A Wendy’s employee recognizing me (I stopped in for an iced tea in between meetings) and offering me a free Frosty and saying, “We appreciate what you do for us.” (I often get credit for what our staff, volunteers, and all you supporters deserve).

These all happened within two hours of us opening the day center this morning.

Written by Forrest Gilmore the Executive Director at Beacon, Inc in Bloomington Indiana

Originally posted to Forrest’s Facebook page and shared here with his permission.

The SASSI in Community Corrections

The Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory (SASSI) is a valuable tool used in various contexts, including community corrections programs. When used in community corrections settings, the SASSI serves several important purposes:

  1. Screening for Substance Use Disorders (SUDs): One of the primary functions of the SASSI in community corrections is to screen individuals under supervision for potential substance use disorders. It helps probation and parole officers identify clients who may be struggling with substance abuse issues.
  2. Risk Assessment and Management: The SASSI provides valuable information about the level of risk that an individual poses in terms of problems related to their substance use. This information helps community corrections officers make informed decisions about supervision levels and interventions. For clients with co-occurring substance use and criminal justice issues, the SASSI helps community corrections officers manage risk more effectively.
  3. Treatment Planning: For individuals identified as having substance use issues, the SASSI results can inform the development of individualized treatment plans. It can help determine the appropriate type and intensity of substance abuse treatment needed to address the client’s specific needs.
  4. Referrals: If the SASSI identifies a client as having a high likelihood of a substance use disorder, community corrections officers can make referrals to specialized substance abuse treatment programs or other appropriate services.
  5. Resource Allocation: The SASSI results can help allocate limited resources within community corrections programs more effectively. As a result, officers can prioritize clients with higher substance abuse risk for more intensive interventions.
  6. Compliance and Accountability: Incorporating the SASSI screening tool into community corrections programs can enhance client accountability and motivation to get treatment, especially among clients who may be unaware or sincerely deluded about their substance use issues.
  7. Documentation and Reporting: The use of the SASSI screening tool in community corrections ensures that evaluations are conducted in a standardized and systematic manner, which is essential for documentation, reporting, and legal compliance.

It’s crucial to note that the SASSI should be administered by professionals who understand the nuances of substance use screening and the ethical considerations involved. Additionally, confidentiality is an important aspect of using the SASSI in a community corrections context, as clients’ rights and privacy must always be protected.