TCU Drug Screen V | Texas Christian University (TCU)

description of resource

The TCU Drug Screen V is a 17‑item screening tool developed by Texas Christian University to identify mild, moderate, or severe substance use disorder, with additional items that help clarify treatment needs, including for opioid use. The first 11 items generate a total score aligned with DSM‑5 criteria, while items 12–17 provide supplemental clinical context.

who might use it

Clinicians, treatment providers, correctional staff, and program intake teams may use the TCU Drug Screen V to quickly assess the severity of a person’s substance use and determine whether further evaluation or treatment planning is needed. It is also used in research and educational settings where standardized substance use screening supports consistent data collection.

how to use it

The administrator asks the individual to answer each question based on their drug use in the past 12 months, scoring one point for each “Yes” on items 1–9 and for qualifying responses on items 10–11. The total score (0–11) is then interpreted using the DSM‑5‑aligned categories (mild, moderate, or severe), and the remaining items are reviewed to inform treatment decisions.