1-800-ASI-Help an Instrument Hotline

This project evaluates the commercial feasibility of the development and implementation of atoll free telephone service providing consultation in the use of the Addiction Severity Index (ASI) andother assessment instruments developed at the University of Pennsylvania/Philadelphia VAMC Centerfor Studies of Addiction and at other academic centers. The purposes are 1) to begin providing easilyaccessible consultation to the research and treatment communities on the use of substance abuseassessment instruments; 2) to gather descriptive data on the users of the service; and 3) to analyze thedata obtained in the interest of designing and implementing a commercially viable consultation serviceon utilizing these instruments. Information collected on callers include their primary foci of activity, aninventory of the assessment instruments they currently utilize and the types of training and consultationthey have accessed and an assessment of their future needs. A sample of 75 callers are followed upwith a telephone survey two weeks after they have utilized the hotline. This data along with the profileof services requested are analyzed and a commercially viable plan designed.