The Carey Guides were created for use with both youth and adults. They were written at a sixth grade reading level; however, developmentally speaking, they may work best with people age 15 and older, with some Guides (e.g., Intimate Partner Violence, Impaired Driving, etc.) being more adult-oriented.

In terms of using the Guides with youth who have a very low IQ, most will likely not benefit from the Guides; however, some, such as those with a borderline IQ, could benefit with adequate coaching and a slower pace.