A Substance Abuse Assessment, or Alcohol / Drug Assessment is usually conducted when there is a question about whether a person’s alcohol or drug use has moved beyond recreational use, and developed into a problem. Substance Abuse Assessments are often court ordered, but can also be helpful for someone who has concerns about his/her own substance use. The evaluation can be used to help an individual make responsible decisions about substance use, identify the areas in her/his life that have been affected by using, and/or evaluate the effectiveness of ones' recovery program.
The factors that are assessed include:
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Amount, frequency, and consequences of alcohol & drug use
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Addiction potential
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Stage of addition
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Information regarding the context in which the addiction process developed
and continues to persist
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Level of treatment needed
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Treatment needs & most effective approach
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Assessment of dual diagnosis
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Clarification of issues underlying addictive behavior
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Obstacles to recovery
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Potential risk of relapse