Tobacco, Alcohol, Prescription medications, and other Substance use Tool (TAPS)
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The TAPS Tool is a two-part screening and brief assessment instrument used to identify substance use and substance use disorders in adults. It covers tobacco, alcohol, prescription medications, and illicit drugs, and is designed for use in primary care and general medical settings.
Recommended Frequency: Administer annually as part of routine behavioral health screening or at intake; repeat every 3–6 months during ongoing care for individuals with known substance use risk
About the TAPS Tool
Developed through a NIDA-supported research initiative, the TAPS Tool integrates a brief screener (TAPS-1) with a more detailed assessment (TAPS-2) if initial risk is identified. It assesses past-year and past-3-month use across a range of substances, including tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, prescription stimulants, sedatives, and opioids. The tool supports SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment) workflows in busy clinical environments.
It is appropriate for use with adults aged 18 and older.
Psychometric Properties
The TAPS Tool has been validated in U.S. primary care populations and shows good sensitivity and specificity for detecting problem substance use and moderate-to-severe substance use disorders.
- TAPS-1: High sensitivity for any past-year use
- TAPS-2: Differentiates substance use risk by frequency and impact
- Good agreement with Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) as a reference standard
Source: McNeely et al., 2016; McNeely et al., 2017
The Scale
TAPS-1 includes 4 initial yes/no questions about past 12-month use of:
- Tobacco
- Alcohol
- Prescription medications (used non-medically)
- Other drugs
If any “yes” is endorsed, TAPS-2 follows with frequency-based questions for the past 3 months, asking how often each substance was used and whether use affected responsibilities or safety.
HiBoop implements TAPS as a two-stage experience:
- Stage 1 (TAPS-1): Rapid screen — 4–5 substance categories
- Stage 2 (TAPS-2): Auto-triggered for substances endorsed in TAPS-1, with brief follow-up questions on use severity and impact
Each substance category produces a risk score from 0 to 3:
| Score | Risk Level | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | No use / Low risk | No follow-up needed |
| 1 | Problem use (mild) | Brief intervention recommended |
| 2 | Problem use (moderate) | Consider further evaluation or referral |
HiBoop highlights risk levels per substance and supports clinician filtering (e.g., show all clients with opioid risk ≥2).
Scoring thresholds vary slightly by substance and risk level.
Copyright
© New York University School of Medicine. Developed by Dr. Jennifer McNeely and colleagues with support from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).
References
- McNeely, J., Strauss, S. M., Saitz, R., et al. (2016). A brief patient self-administered substance use screening tool for primary care: Validation of the TAPS Tool. JAMA Internal Medicine, 176(11), 1770–1777. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2016.5941
- McNeely, J., et al. (2017). Performance of the TAPS Tool for substance use screening in primary care patients. Annals of Internal Medicine, 166(10), 708–717. https://doi.org/10.7326/M16-0317
Disclaimer
This summary is for informational use only. HiBoop does not provide diagnostic services or interpret clinical results. The TAPS Tool should be administered and interpreted by trained healthcare professionals.
Permissions
The TAPS Tool is available for non-commercial clinical use and can be accessed via the NIDA Clinical Trials Network. Permission may be required for adaptation or commercial applications. See Source
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the TAPS Tool the same as AUDIT or DAST?
No. TAPS is multi-substance and combines screening + assessment. AUDIT and DAST are substance-specific.
Does a score of 3 mean the person has a substance use disorder?
Not necessarily. It indicates high risk, and further evaluation using DSM-5 criteria is recommended.
Can TAPS be used with adolescents?
The current tool is validated for adults 18+. For youth, use the CRAFFT or BSTAD tools.
How long does it take?
Usually 3–5 minutes, depending on how many substances are endorsed in Stage 1.