Drug & Alcohol Assessment

As a mental health and addiction recovery clinic, we at Red Willow Counseling & Recovery conduct drug and alcohol assessments. Drug and alcohol assessments are important because they can help diagnose substance abuse or misuse. Drug and alcohol assessments can also help determine how severe the substance abuse is. These kinds of assessments can help determine what the road to recovery may look like or what kinds of therapies might help a person. Continue reading to learn more.

Why Are Drug And Alcohol Assessments Important?

Drug and alcohol assessments are important for many reasons. Firstly, drug/alcohol assessments can help determine if an individual has a substance use problem. Drug and alcohol assessments can also help spot substance abuse and mental health disorders involving drug misuse early on. 

An assessment is important for a person who is struggling with substance abuse to be able to know the best course of action to take after an intervention or prior to unforeseen consequences. An assessment might help a medical healthcare professional before there is an issue in the workplace. Drug/alcohol assessments might be required for employment opportunities or may be court-ordered after a DUI or other drug-related illegal act. Getting an assessment and following through with recommendations can help a person’s legal defense. Assessments usually do not require a lot of time but are greatly encouraged due to the help they can provide.

What Does A Drug/Alcohol Assessment Entail?

Luckily, drug or alcohol assessments don’t take a lot of time to complete. However, there are usually a few different parts to alcohol or drug assessments. Firstly, you will complete an intake assessment and schedule an interview. Then an addiction treatment professional with interview you to collect your personal history. You will then complete some questionnaires, and you may be asked to take a drug test.

There will be a variety of questions that are asked during the screening/assessment process including questions about substance use history, family history of substance abuse, drug/alcohol use patterns, your mental health, and any other medical issues you may be dealing with. The questionnaires explore more thoroughly any mental health issues and the severity of your substance abuse.

Sometimes family, friends, or other collateral sources may be contacted to gather more information. Lastly, all of this information is compiled into a summary letter and will include a diagnosis, if applicable, and all recommendations appropriate for the treatment of your substance abuse.

What Other Services Accompany An Assessment?

After a drug or alcohol evaluation, you will be given specific recommendations needed to address any substance abuse or mental health issues. Red Willow measures the severity of your substance use with services needed to improve your overall health.

Some things that may be helpful on your journey to wellness include:

• Professional treatment, such as a residential or Intensive Outpatient program
• Substance Abuse Counseling
• Interventions and Consultations
• Peer run support meetings such as AA or NA meetings, SMART Recovery, Dharma Recovery, etc.
• PRIME for Life Program
• Substance Education Classes
• Medication evaluation
• Medical check-up, including labs or any specific examinations
• Psychological testing
• Vocational counseling
• Daily structuring such as diet, sleep and exercise

Reach out today for more information about our comprehensive drug and alcohol evaluations or take a look at our Substance Abuse Assessment.

Do You Need Substance Abuse Recovery Resources?

If you or a family member are in need of a drug or alcohol assessment or other substance abuse recovery resources, we at Red Willow Counseling & Recovery are at your service. We provide many recovery resources including drug and alcohol assessments, consultations, and interventions as well as rehabilitation efforts, including access to the Prime For Life program. In addition to substance recovery resources, we provide options for individuals struggling with mental health issues, relationship problems, etc. If you are in need of professional counseling and recovery services, feel free to reach out to us at Red Willow Counseling & Recovery today.

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