INTRODUCTION: Substance use and abuse and their consequences are a major problem 
among adolescents. The screening for problematic alcohol and substance use, 
abuse and dependence should be part of the case-taking process for adolescents. 
The Problem Oriented Screening Instrument for Teenagers (POSIT) and the Car, 
Relax, Alone, Forget, Family/Friends, Trouble questionnaire (CRAFFT) are used to 
this end.
POSIT: 17 items corresponding to substance use and abuse (POSITsua); it has been 
validated in Spanish.
CRAFFT: six questions; it has not been validated in Argentina.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the validity of a version of the CRAFFT screening test 
adapted to Spanish in a group of Argentine adolescents using the POSITsua test 
as reference.
POPULATION AND METHODS: The CRAFFTa and the POSITsua tests were administered to 
14-20 year-old adolescents. An affirmative answer was scored as 1, and a 
negative answer, as 0. An individual was considered to have an increased risk of 
problematic use, abuse and dependence if he/she scored >2 in the CRAFFTa and 
POSITsua tests.
RESULTS: Two hundred and eighty-six adolescents were included; 52% were female; 
mean age: 16.6 years old. The CRAFFTa score was >2 for 29%, while the POSIT 
score was >2 for 37%. CRAFFTa sensitivity: 59%; specificity: 88%. CRAFFTa 
positive predictive value: 0.74; negative predictive value: 0.78. The area under 
the curve was 0.73. In the linear regression, the R for the six CRAFFT questions 
was 0.60. Gender and age did not modify results. Cronbach's alpha was 0.64.
CONCLUSION: CRAFFTa sensitivity was 59%, and its specificity was 88%, compared 
to the POSITsua test as a screening tool for problematic alcohol and substance 
use, abuse and dependence among Argentine adolescents.