How to Conduct a Good Alcohol & Drug Assessment

The process of conducting a quality drug and alcohol assessment is important to properly identifying the level of addiction in a patient. The assessor must know how to build rapport and trust with a patient as well as be knowledgeable about drug and alcohol addiction. These assessments can be conducted for legal/criminal purposes, and at rehab institutions, hospitals and juvenile institutions. It helps the assessor to map out a plan for the addict, and the assessment itself can also be therapeutic.

Instructions

• 1

  Build rapport and trust with the drug or alcohol abuser by explaining confidentiality and interviewing the patient individually. Be careful not to behave in a pretentious manner but conduct yourself in a down-to-earth way and be yourself. It will make the patient more comfortable. Don't allow yourself to be confrontational or judgmental, as this will prevent transparency in the interview.

• 2

  Gather from the patient a comprehensive history of his drug and alcohol abuse. Ask the patient whether the drug use has ceased, decreased or increased. Determine what sorts of drugs have been used habitually. Ask the patient about the frequency and duration of use, how the drug was administered and any treatment methods used in the past.

• 3

  Conduct the first physical examination by observing the intoxication level or withdrawal symptoms of the patient. Watch for signs such as dilated pupils, drowsiness and slurred speech to determine the level of withdrawal. Other negative signs to watch for are confusion and psychosis.

• 4

  Conduct the second physical examination for medical complications by observing the mental state of the patient as well as vital signs and track marks that indicate needle use. Be alert for swollen lymph nodes and problems in the heart, lungs and liver.

• 5

  Determine whether the patient has the will and desire to stop drug and alcohol abuse. If the patient is not willing to change, further treatment will be hindered.