The road to sobriety can be challenging; it requires a lot of strength, courage, and honesty. As an individual begins the process of recovery from substance abuse, they need to demonstrate their willingness to change by undergoing a thorough and objective evaluation process. Fortunately, there are many addiction treatment programs that provide the necessary assistance needed to commence this process. An authorized addiction specialist will administer comprehensive diagnostic evaluations that help identify the source of any substance abuse issues as well as potential triggers so they can be avoided in the future.
Here is what you need to know about these types of evaluations: An impartial substance abuse evaluation is one of the first steps towards recovery from addiction; it provides an unbiased assessment from a third party who has no other vested interests in your life except for your own good. The process typically involves an initial screening followed by either continued outpatient or residential care depending on the severity of your case and could involve one or several different types of professionals such as:
What Is Considered a Comprehensive Assessment?
A comprehensive assessment is a thorough process that usually involves several meetings with an addiction specialist and other professionals who will help you determine the severity of your addiction. The entire process could take anywhere from a couple days to a few weeks depending on your situation and the availability of the scheduling. Each meeting with each professional will include a thorough Q&A session, in which you discuss any past or present issues related to your addiction. You will be asked to provide as much detail as possible so the professionals can give you the most accurate assessment and recommendations. You will also be provided with a variety of questionnaires and rating scales so you can score yourself based on certain personality traits and behavioural patterns.
Assessing Severity and Determining the Root Cause of Abuse
A thorough and comprehensive assessment will thoroughly evaluate your substance abuse issues including the frequency of use, duration of use, and the substances you abuse. You will be asked to provide detailed information about the amount of substances you use, the frequency related to your substance use, and the duration of your substance abuse. You will also be asked about the negative effects of your substance use, such as how has it affected your relationships with family and friends, your ability to get to work on time, and your performance at work. The professionals working with you will also want to know about any attempts to quit or cut back on your substance use. They will ask you about the different methods that you have tried in order to help you quit or control your substance use, such as attending support groups, seeing a therapist, and participating in other self-help groups.
Confirming the Presence of Co-Occurring Disorders
A comprehensive assessment will thoroughly evaluate your mental health and will determine if there are any co-occurring disorders that could complicate your addiction treatment or hinder your recovery. You will be asked to provide detailed information about your mental health history and any mental health conditions that you may have been diagnosed with. You may be asked to provide results from psychological tests to determine if you have certain mental health conditions. The professionals working with you will ask you about any prescribed medications that you take and any medications that may have negatively impacted your addiction. You will be asked about your diet and any other health-related habits that could affect your mental health.
Identifying Triggers to Use
A comprehensive assessment will thoroughly evaluate the situations that trigger your addictive behaviour and will determine what the root cause is for your issues with substance abuse. You will be asked to provide detailed information about the situations in your life that trigger your substance use. You will be asked about the emotions that you feel during these situations and how you cope with them. The professionals working with you will ask you what you do to avoid dealing with these emotions. They will ask you what you do to make yourself feel better when you are feeling sadness, loneliness, anger, or guilt. They may ask you what you do to cope with feelings of stress.
Overall Conclusion
A thorough and comprehensive assessment will provide an honest and objective evaluation of your substance abuse issues and will determine the necessary assistance needed to commence your journey towards recovery. The professionals working with you will provide you with their recommendations for treatment, including what type of treatment would be best for you and how long you should remain in treatment. They will also make recommendations for aftercare once you complete your treatment program. With these recommendations, you can clearly see the type of assistance you will receive during the assessment process. You can also better understand what the professionals are looking for during your evaluation. Now that you have a better understanding of what goes into an assessment, you can be better prepared to share your story with the professionals helping you along your journey towards recovery.
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