What to Expect in an Alcohol and Drug Assessment

What to Expect in an Alcohol and Drug Assessment

Substance addiction can be fatal to someone’s life. It has many effects on one’s health and social life. When substance abuse gets out of hand, it causes damage to one’s body and even their relationships. A person in this situation may find himself or herself engaging in not-so-pleasant activities that endanger their health and that of others in the long run.

When someone reaches this end of the road, they may decide to get help by their own accord, through an intervention or a mandate from a court. Substance evaluation is then conducted to help assess the extent of the alcohol or drug abuse. It also helps to determine the treatment measures that the individual should undergo in order to achieve the greatest success.

So what does a substance abuse evaluation do? In case you were wondering, this evaluation:

  • Helps in understanding a substance abuse victim and the victim’s circumstances so as to establish a baseline for the best treatment plan to enhance quick recovery.
  • Helps to determine the extent of damage on the victim’s life.
  • Also helps to determine whether the individual is indeed abusing drugs and alcohol, which has led to addiction.
  • Is necessary to confirm the probability of any co-occurring conditions, from physical to mental health concerns.
  • Also helps to measure the extent of addiction to a particular substance.

What exactly can one expect in an evaluation?

When undergoing an evaluation, there are at most two detailed steps:

  1. Screening – This is first done in order to evaluate the possibility of a particular problem being present. The person who is responsible for administering this task may be a psychiatrist, a counselor, a doctor or even a psychologist. While undertaking the assessment, they will inquire about:
  • Your health history
  • Effect of the substance abuse on your life
  • Any treatment history for your particular concerns
  • The use of drugs at any other time other than the present date

 

  • Assessment – This is a more thorough procedure that is normally carried out to define the nature of the problem in order to determine the type of treatment to be used to address the situation. This procedure is very important because:
    • It helps the one performing the evaluation to determine the presence of any other condition that may require a more thorough look.
    • It is the first step in assisting the professional to detect the actual presence of the drug in question.
    • It allows for support and preemptive care if at all a risk factor is highlighted.

In case a risk factor is present, assessment helps the particular victim not to undergo further progression of the substance abuse.

An alcohol and drug assessment for court is relevant to provide the evidence of struggle with either drugs or alcohol. Though your current circumstances, that is, drug or alcohol influence, may not be your choice, it is important and advantageous to take such a court mandate seriously in order to give yourself an opportunity to receive the help that you need. You might also want to do some research on questions about online assessments so as to be sure of the service to go for. Additionally, look here to find a good alcohol rehab. Health is Wealth! Please take care.