Assessment Tools

  • Carbon monoxide (CO) breath monitor (sometimes called a CO meter) is a small handheld device used to measure the level of carbon monoxide (in parts per million) in the expired breath. CO is a colorless, odorless gas which is produced by incomplete combustion such as house fires, vehicle exhaust, faulty gas appliances as well as smoking tobacco (cigarette, cigar, pipe, mentholated tobacco and hookah smoking) as well as marijuana smoke. Several websites of companies are listed below. Some have resources including training videos, calibration helps, MSDS’s and guides to interpreting results for example. Some meters offer different features and before purchasing you need to consider initial cost, cost of individual tests going forward, and needed information from each test.
  • The Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) is a brief, effective assessment to determine nicotine dependence and treatment options for tobacco users
  • The Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence for Smokeless Tobacco (FTND-ST) is an adaptation of the FTND used to determine nicotine dependence and treatment options for smokeless tobacco users
  • The Tobacco Free Maine website describes an assortment of easy to use and effective tools for assessing nicotine dependence, readiness to quit, and other co-morbid conditions