TAPS
Also written as: TAPS — Tobacco, Alcohol, Prescription medication, and other Substance use
A brief screening tool designed to identify tobacco, alcohol, prescription medication, and substance use in clinical settings.
Full Definition
The Tobacco, Alcohol, Prescription medication, and other Substance use (TAPS) tool is a two-part screening instrument developed to identify risky substance use in healthcare settings. Part 1 consists of four brief questions about frequency of use for tobacco, alcohol, prescription drugs for non-medical reasons, and illegal drugs in the past 12 months. Patients who screen positive proceed to Part 2, which assesses for problem use or substance use disorders through additional questions about consequences and loss of control. The TAPS tool was designed to be brief, easy to administer, and suitable for use across various healthcare settings including primary care and mental health clinics. It provides a standardized approach to substance use screening that can inform clinical decision-making and treatment planning.
Usage
Usage note: Capitalize as TAPS; spell out the full name on first use in formal documents.
In Context
- "All patients in the psychiatric clinic complete the TAPS screening tool at their initial evaluation." — Clinical protocol
- "The patient's positive TAPS screen prompted a comprehensive substance use assessment." — Clinical evaluation note