Adult Assessment & Intervention with Substance Abuse

2. Assessment

A Brief Assessment can be made by asking a few questions:

Can you tell me a little about your alcohol or other drug use?

Has this been a problem for you or your family? (health issues, relationships, legal problems, work or money)

Is there any relationship to your current issue? What have you done, or are doing about your drug use? (If any other agencies or drug workers, seek written permission to contact these agencies/workers).

Would you like to deal with any of the issues raised?

Reflect issues back to client, incorporate into case management plan if required, further assessment/intervention if required (e.g. motivational interviewing

A More Detailed Assessment

(if indicated by initial assessment that drug use is a primary reason for intervention - seek former assessments from other agencies if available)

PAST USE

Starting from the beginning, can you tell me about your drug use?

When did drug use first become a problem? Periods of controlled use or abstinence? Previous drug treatment? If injecting, ever shared equipment? Unprotected sex? Blood borne virus test? Immunisation against Hepatitis B? Have any of these drugs been prescribed for you?

Any other history you think is important?

CURRENT USE

What drug(s) are you currently using? Any other prescribed medications? Do you use these together or separately? Describe your current drug use pattern. (i.e. daily, intermittent binge) Assess the daily and weekly amounts used as well as during binge episodes Describe a typical day to identify the sequence of events associated with drug use using open-ended questions.

What time do you normally have your first…? With whom? What triggers you to stop? What triggers you to start? Can you describe what's happening before you get intoxicated (high, stoned), what's happening when you are intoxicated, when you come down and in-between (including how you get your drug/s). Possibly draw the ups, downs and in-betweens graphically to illustrate what you mean)

How do these ups and downs relate to your presenting issue (state issue)?

Which drug/s are causing you the most problems? (if more than one drug used)

TREATMENT PROGRAMS

Have you ever sought treatment? Where and when.

What have you tried