[Screening, referring and counseling of adolescents for substance abuse. A randomized controlled study on 2120...

The DEP-ADO assessment questionnaire defines three alcohol- and drug-related risk levels: low (green light), intermediate (yellow light) and high risk (red light). Our study sought to evaluate whether a DEP-ADO systematic screening by school nurses and physicians improves referring to specialized addiction consultations.

Randomized controlled study with allocation of subjects by matched pairs of school classes: 1045 adolescents received a group information; 1075 adolescents were met individually and filled in the questionnaire; then either they received a risk reduction oriented intervention (yellow light) or were referred to an addiction outpatient clinic (red light).

In the DEP-ADO group, 27 yellow lights (2.8%) and 15 red lights (1.6%) were identified. One adolescent of the DEP-ADO group actually went to the addiction consultation during the 3 months following the intervention (NS). Twenty youths consulted at least a second time the school nurse or physician, among whom 18 belonging to the intervention group and two to the control group (p=0.0003).

A systematic screening with the DEP-ADO questionnaire did not increase the reference rate to the addiction consultation. The links between age, smoking and risk level suggest screening strategies restraining, for the younger, proposal of the DEP-ADO to the pupils smoking tobacco. ROC-ADO study demonstrates the need to empower the relations between school health providers and addiction consultations.