Although prevalence rates of substance use in adolescence have remained steady or declined in recent years, there is a concerning increase in overdose deaths in the last decade. Given the significant burden associated with substance use disorders, systematic screening and assessment are important to identify substance use risk and diagnose substance use disorders. Youth with mood disorders are at an increased risk of developing a substance use disorder. Understanding risk factors is critical to effective screening and assessment as well as early identification and intervention. In the present review, we discuss current research on risk factors of comorbid substance use disorders in youth with mood disorders and provide a brief review of commonly used screening and assessment tools for use with adolescents. Finally, we conclude with considerations for next steps following screening and assessment of comorbid substance use disorders in youth with mood disorders. [ Psychiatr Ann. 2024;54(9):e248–e252.]
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