What is an addiction assessment?

An addiction assessment, or alcohol misuse assessment, is the first step to long-term recovery from addiction. You will be assessed sensitively by addiction experts prior to your treatment, to ascertain how your treatment plan is to be created.

An example of what they will try to ascertain may include the extent of your addiction, previous treatment and withdrawal experiences, needle sharing and unprotected or risky sexual behaviour. This information allows a screening test for any health problems that will be treated appropriately if necessary, by your healthcare provider.

Throughout an addiction assessment, it is imperative that you are as informative as can be about the true extent of your addiction as well as any physical and psychological symptoms that you may be experiencing. You will not be judged during your addiction assessment, instead, you will be treated with care, compassion and complete confidence by the addiction specialists.

Methods of assessment in a rehab centre

In almost all cases the addictions specialist will gather information in the evaluation, assessing the development of the problem, status of the problem, and related issues such as relationships, work and leisure pursuits. Blood, breath and urine tests may be taken to assess the amount of alcohol or drugs in your body. Blood tests can measure damage to your body caused by alcohol and drug use.

An evaluation could include analysis of;

• Patterns of substance abuse, quantities used, duration of problematic use and last period of abstinence.
• If there are any professionals currently involved in your care? Such as a therapist or counsellor.
• Number of drinking days in the past month
• The average number of units per day:
• If you have ever injected drugs?
• Injected drugs in the past 126 days?
• Ever shared any injecting related equipment
• If you are taking any prescribed medication
• Have you had a home detox or been to rehab before? If so, how many times?

From this report, medical caregivers are able to identify risk, including triggers and signs and symptoms that the risk is present. Identify how the risk of harm can be managed and/or minimised. These risk assessments are carried out on each client to ascertain that the individual is suitable for treatment.

Assessment and monitoring tools

Self-Assessment-test

Fast Alcohol Screening Test

A.U.D.I.T Tool For Families

How is the family involved in an addiction assessment?

Most calls made to addiction treatment providers initially come from family members concerned about their loved ones. Therefore, it is important to note that patients are not always involved in the preliminary discussion of the addiction assessment. Family members often seek support and solace in the provision of informative addiction material about their loved one’s addiction.

Contact us today to speak with one of our addiction experts, who will be happy to provide you with a free confidential addiction assessment.

John

John’s has dedicated his life to finding treatment for those with addictions and supporting their families.
A business manager for 20 years in the construction industry John’s own experience of addiction led him to found his own rehab centre group in Scotland.
John qualified as a counsellor for people with substance misuse during his time working as a therapist and manager for the foundation. He also trained as an interventionist and appeared on ITV as a consultant helping families impacted by addiction.
He has helped thousands of people in recovery and his knowledge of the rehabilitations process and the addiction experience is unparalleled.

About the author

Article author

John

John’s has dedicated his life to finding treatment for those with addictions and supporting their families. A business manager for 20 years in the construction industry John’s own experience of addiction led him to found his own rehab centre group in Scotland. John qualified as a counsellor for people with substance misuse during his time working as a therapist and manager for the foundation. He also trained as an interventionist and appeared on ITV as a consultant helping families impacted by addiction. He has helped thousands of people in recovery and his knowledge of the rehabilitations process and the addiction experience is unparalleled.