A LITTLE SPACE TO UNDERSTAND YOURSELF

Opioid & drug use screening.

A private place to take an honest look at substance use. The TAPS tool starts with four areas—tobacco, alcohol, other drugs, and prescription medications—then asks follow-up questions based on your answers.

3–5 minPrivate · No sign-upFor adults 18+ · Screening, not a diagnosis

TAPS ·Part 1 of 2Private check-in

Start with the past 12 months. Your answers guide the follow-up questions.

In the PAST 12 MONTHS, how often have you used any tobacco product (for example, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars, pipes, or smokeless tobacco)?

Daily or almost daily Weekly Monthly Less than monthly Never

Questions adjust to your answers. You can go back and make changes.

Concerned about fentanyl or a substance not named here? A low score can miss those concerns. You can go straight to support at any time.

Your answers stay in this page. They aren’t sent to us or saved. Refreshing or leaving clears your check-in.

Tobacco, Alcohol, Prescription medication, and other Substance use (TAPS) Tool. National Institute on Drug Abuse Clinical Trials Network. McNeely et al., Annals of Internal Medicine (2016), 165:690–699. About the original tool ↗

JavaScript is needed to score this check privately in your browser. You can use the original tool linked above or find support directly.

ABOUT THIS CHECK

What does this screening tool measure?

TAPS is a two-stage substance-use screen with separate results for assessed substances. It includes heroin and prescription opioid misuse. It does not diagnose opioid use disorder or determine treatment eligibility, and this version has no separate illicit-fentanyl question.

Screening tool: Tobacco, Alcohol, Prescription medication, and other Substance use (TAPS)
Questions: 4 opening areas, with follow-ups based on your answers
Time period: Past 12 months; follow-ups cover the past 3 months
Who this site is for: Adults aged 18 and older

View instrument sources and further reading

What does TAPS check?

TAPS stands for Tobacco, Alcohol, Prescription medication, and other Substance use. Developed through the National Institute on Drug Abuse Clinical Trials Network, it was studied in adults in primary care, including people completing the questions themselves. The opening questions cover the past 12 months. When an answer indicates use, the relevant follow-up questions cover the past 3 months. You do not have to answer questions about every substance if the opening answers do not call for them.

Does this screen for opioid use disorder?

TAPS includes separate questions about heroin and prescription opioid use other than as prescribed. A positive result is a reason to discuss opioid use with a clinician. It does not diagnose opioid use disorder (OUD), establish its severity, or determine whether medication is appropriate. Taking a medication exactly as prescribed is not what the prescription-misuse questions ask about. This version does not ask a separate question about illicit fentanyl; seek an assessment if fentanyl or another substance concerns you, regardless of your score.

Understanding your substance-specific results

TAPS does not give you one overall drug-use score. Each assessed substance has its own result. The alcohol score ranges from 0 to 4; the other scored categories range from 0 to 3. A score of 1 is a positive screen and 2 or more indicates higher risk requiring further assessment. The “other substances” question is not given a numeric score. A zero does not rule out a substance use disorder or mean that use is safe. The published alcohol questions use different quantities for females and males; if you skip that choice, the result clearly marks alcohol as not assessed.

What if the result is low, but you still feel concerned?

Your experience matters even when a brief screen does not flag it. The questions focus on particular substances and time periods, so they cannot capture every pattern or consequence. A clinician can discuss cravings, difficulties cutting down, withdrawal, effects on everyday life, and your health history. You can bring a printed summary to an appointment. If worry, low mood, or feeling overwhelmed is also part of your experience, the related mental health checks offer optional starting points for that conversation.

Treatment for opioid use disorder, including MAT

Opioid use disorder is treatable. An evaluation can include a discussion of medications for opioid use disorder—sometimes called medication-assisted treatment, or MAT—alongside other support that fits your needs. A screening result does not select a medication or guarantee a prescription. Ask a provider which services they offer, what the first appointment involves, and how follow-up care works. You do not need to finish this screen to seek support.

Find support in your state

Better Behavioral, our care partner, serves patients anywhere in Kentucky and Indiana fully online, with in-person visits also available at its office locations. Ask the team about the substance-use services you need, costs, and insurance. Elsewhere in the United States, FindTreatment.gov and the SAMHSA National Helpline can help you explore treatment. Your score and answers are not shared with providers when you follow a link.

An overdose needs immediate help

If someone cannot be woken or is breathing slowly or not at all, call 911 and give naloxone if it is available. Stay with them and follow the emergency dispatcher’s instructions. Screening and routine intake are not emergency services. You can find overdose-response guidance above the questions and alongside your results.

Learn more about the screening tool and the information on this page.

Sources and further reading

GOOD QUESTIONS

A little more reassurance.

A little more information,
so you can feel comfortable starting.

Does an opioid screening result qualify me for Suboxone or MAT?

No. The TAPS screen does not determine whether you have opioid use disorder or which treatment is appropriate. A clinician can evaluate your concerns and discuss medications for opioid use disorder, sometimes called MAT, and other support. You can request care without completing this test.

Does this tell me whether I have a condition?

No. A screen can help identify symptoms worth discussing. A qualified professional can consider the full picture, including your history and daily life. A support guide does not produce a screening result.

Can I bring my result to an appointment?

Yes. After completing an interactive check, use “Print my result” to print it or save it as a PDF on your own device. The site does not receive or store that copy.

Do I have to use Better Behavioral?

No. Better Behavioral is our care partner for Kentucky and Indiana. You are free to use any provider, and we also link to independent national resources. Your choice of provider does not affect your result.