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Alcohol & Drug Evaluations

Alcohol and drug evaluations are done by mental health professionals, including social workers, counselors, psychologists and psychiatrists. Evaluations are made up of questions pertaining to the criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders (DSM). Questions are from the alcohol and substance abuse sections in this manual. The answers are designed to give professionals the information they need to plan appropriate treatment.

  1. Tolerance

    • Tolerance is one of the factors explored in this evaluation. You are asked to answer questions regarding the drugs or alcohol and the history of your usage. A detailed description of the amounts needed to achieve the desired affect of the substance now, in comparison to when you first started, are documented and examined.

    Withdrawal

    • Withdrawal is another criterion that is discussed. Physical and emotional withdrawal symptoms are explained to you, and you will answer questions about any experiences you have had with them. This will include their intensity, frequency and duration. Symptoms of withdrawal are irritability, anxiety, shakes, sweats, nausea or vomiting. You are questioned about things you may do to avoid these symptoms from occurring, such as ingesting more of the substance you are withdrawing from.

    Control

    • You are asked if you have difficulty controlling your use of the substance, such as using more alcohol or drugs than you intended to. Drinking to get drunk or not being able to stop at having only one drink are the types of patterns that are examined. The same is asked about your drug use and your abilities, if any, to stop after doing a small amount.

    Continued Use Despite Consequences

    • Negative consequences that may occur with abuse of alcohol or drugs, such as DUIs or warnings about being late for work, are examined. You are asked to discuss any consequences that have occurred due to your continued drug or alcohol use. The professional doing the examination will need to know if you continued doing the substance despite negative consequences.

    Neglecting Activities

    • Any daily activities that have been neglected due to alcohol or drug use are evaluated. Putting off or reducing time from work, school, recreational or social activities due to substance use is questioned as part of the criteria for this evaluation.

    Time Consumed

    • The amount of time and emotional energy that you devote to your drinking and drug use is asked in a series of questions. Any preoccupations with obtaining, using, concealing, planning or recovering from your use are also considerations. Schemes regarding hiding your use from the family, friends or workplace is another part of the criteria.

    Unsuccessful at Stopping or Cutting Down

    • Your desire to cut down or completely stop alcohol and drug use is evaluated. Details of any unsuccessful attempts you have made toward stopping are needed for this evaluation . Past unsuccessful attempts are examined in order to offer options that may help you achieve success this time.

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