Assessing risk in families affected by substance abuse

A new instrument assessing risk in substance abuse-affected families is presented. The instrument assesses those dimensions of substance abuse that make it more difficult for parents to meet the basic needs of their children. It also assesses those components of the parent's environment that may increase risk to the family's well-being. Information is presented on the instrument's reliability and validity. The article concludes with a discussion of the issues involved in assessing the risk for child abuse and neglect in families where there is an identified substance abuse problem.