The Situations Where You Will Need a Drug and Alcohol Assessment

What is Substance Abuse Evaluation?

Substance abuse evaluations are similar to the check-ups you may have had as a child at the doctor's office. These substance abuse tests allow your treatment provider to have a perfect understanding of where you're at with your relationship to substance use so that they may develop a strategy tailored to your unique situation. They can also look for signs of addiction, as well as other issues like mental health problems and an unhealthy amount of drug and alcohol use.

The drug and alcohol assessment commonly referred to as an evaluation, is part of the process. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) separates the entire process into two steps, screening and assessment. The first screening is a brief survey that aids in determining whether or not there is an issue with substances. The examination goes a step further by establishing a diagnosis and then developing an effective therapeutic strategy.

You'll most likely be asked about your drug and alcohol use, medical history, and if you've ever received treatment as part of the drug and alcohol assessment. Your healthcare provider generally wants to know how much drug or alcohol use has affected your daily routine, which is an important aspect of determining addiction. The question now is – when exactly may you be required to undergo a drug and alcohol assessment?

For Court-Ordered Purposes

Perhaps you're facing a legal issue regarding drugs or alcohol. In this instance, the court will need a method to assess your substance use so it will require a court-ordered evaluation. They rely on drug abuse assessments, just like other organizations.

So, what exactly does a court-ordered drug and alcohol evaluation entail? According to the National Institutes of Health, “In some criminal justice settings, only a single screening is needed, due to limited treatment options available or to the fact that providers will provide an assessment at a later stage.” Screening can be followed by a more thorough examination if several treatment choices are accessible and more time is available.

These procedures assist the court in determining and following up on sentencing. If you're charged with Driving Under the Influence (DUI alcohol), for example, you'll be compelled to complete an assessment. You will most likely be offered a driver safety plan based on the findings of the conducted test. A safety plan is one of many examples of how a substance abuse evaluation may help both the person involved and their community.

People often ask – do I have to go through a drug test while undergoing a substance abuse evaluation in the criminal justice system? Drug and alcohol evaluations are often a requirement for court-mandated therapy. Drug testing may assist the court in determining how to continue with your case and minimize the likelihood of you being re-arrested.

For Community-Based Programs

Drug and alcohol evaluations in community settings are a valuable tool for treatment professionals, the courts, and community supervision personnel to track and address relapse episodes and therapeutic progress. Evaluations are required for these initiatives so they can keep offering the services that are useful to you and your community at large.

Relapse prevention is a significant benefit or advantage of such community treatment programs. This is especially true since relapse may be harmful to your health and result in unlawful behavior. Drug testing may help your neighborhood risk-reduction program determine exactly what they need to do to assist you in the near and remote future.

Some Organizations Demand These Evaluations

Can they do that? Yes! Drug and alcohol evaluation is frequently required as part of the application process for certain professions or sports. These institutions want to know if you are capable of performing the task since substance abuse is a powerful influence that can affect performance. Professionals that operate heavy machinery are an example of those who might be asked to undergo drug and alcohol assessments, and sportsmen are another. Drug testing can also help you stay drug-free or serve as a precursor to residential addiction treatment. Drug testing benefits both the individual and the organization in any scenario.

Now that you know when you may be required to submit to a substance and alcohol assessment, your next concern should be how to prepare for these tests.

What To Expect in These Evaluations

DUI defense clients typically request a drug and alcohol evaluation. The court may order the examination, or the client may decide to have one done to demonstrate that they are proactive in determining whether substance abuse is a problem.

Most people are apprehensive and unsure how an evaluation will be conducted, as would be anticipated. Individuals are typically nervous about being judged by a drug and alcohol counselor for the first time in their lives, especially since it is often the case that they have never been to court before. Some people prefer to know exactly what to expect at their evaluation. Not all evaluations are the same, but they may be categorized into a few general categories. The counselor will most likely address the following aspects in your drug and alcohol evaluations:

The counselor will first look at the criminal complaint to see what your crime is about. Next, the counselor will look at your criminal history. They're attempting to establish whether this legal issue is your only one or if there's a recurring problem related to substance use or abuse. After looking at this history, they may conclude whether drugs or alcohol are causing the pattern.

In the second stage of your drug and alcohol evaluations, the counselor will look at your arrest report, also known as a "story." The evaluator may use this information to assess how intoxicated you appeared in the events leading to your arrest.

The breath test ticket will come up to determine alcohol abuse if it's the case of a DUI. This is to evaluate how much you consumed on the specific occasion. They are more inclined to recommend addiction treatment as the amount increases. They'll then conduct a urinalysis (UA) screen to see if you've had alcohol in the last 24 hours or if you have used marijuana in the previous 30 days.

The counselor will inquire about your weekly usage of alcohol or marijuana. The more frequently you use, the more likely they are to see a substance abuse problem. Then the counselor will inquire as to how many alcoholic beverages it takes you to become intoxicated. They're attempting to establish a baseline for how alcohol affects you and whether that baseline has altered over time. In other words, is it now much more difficult for you to get drunk than it was in the past?

There will most likely be additional questions about your family history and whether other relatives of yours have a problem with addiction. This may indicate a propensity to substance abuse and is a critical point in drug or alcohol assessment.

Finally, your work history and personal life will also be examined in drug or alcohol assessments. What the counselor is looking to note here is whether alcohol or drug use has stood in the way of your professional career or personal relationships at any point. They may also want to know whether a loved one has suggested that you get addiction treatment for alcohol abuse or substance use disorder.

You Need a Reliable Attorney

If you have concerns about a drug or alcohol assessment, you should contact your attorney for further information and assistance. You must be honest with your evaluator so that you may receive the treatment you require while also ensuring that the court does not view you as being deceitful. Do you need an attorney who can be trusted? If yes, then NM Online Education is your greatest asset. NM Online is here to help you locate the finest DUI attorneys in the United States. Since 2008, NM Online has been collaborating with DUI and criminal defense attorneys throughout the country to bring you the best defense possible.

Our team has a long history with DUI Attorneys, having helped clients successfully navigate the court services system as one of the country's largest court service providers. Because of our understanding of the market, we only partner with the top attorneys in the country and have built our brand into being a trusted name in the business. You can find out more about NM Online today and get the best services for Online DUI School, Online Drug Classes, Virtual Alcohol and Drug Assessments, and DUI Lawyer Referrals.