Assessment for Substance Use Disorders

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this unit is to evaluate how the assessment is an essential component in treatment planning for people with substance use disorders. Conducting a comprehensive assessment is the foundation of treatment planning and problem solving in any approach to addiction treatment.

The assessment process usually includes a variety of techniques. The interview can include discussions with family members and significant others. The purpose of the interview is to elicit information in the following areas:

• Demographic data.
• Reason for referral.
• Presenting problem.
• Medical and psychological history.
• Family history.
• Suicide risk assessment.
• Substance abuse assessment.
• Trauma history and assessment.
• Current concerns.

While the interview is being conducted, the counselor makes extensive observations of behavior, thought processes, affect, and mood.

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LEARNING ACTIVITIES

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• Toggle Drawer

[u04s1] Unit 4 Study 1

Assessment of Substance Use Disorders

Readings

Use The Substance-Related Disorder Assessment: A Roadmap to Effective Treatment Planning to read the following:

• Chapter 5, “Comprehensive Assessment,” pages 53–62.

Use the Capella Library to read the following:

• Butler, S. F., Black, R. A., McCaffrey, S. A., Ainscough, J., & Doucette, A. M. (2017). A computer adaptive testing version of the addiction severity index-multimedia version (ASI-MV): The addiction severity CAT. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors: Journal of the Society of Psychologists in Addictive Behaviors, 31(3), 265–275.

Use the Internet to read the following:

• Addiction Technology Transfer Center Network. (n.d.). A guide for conducting cultural assessment of Hispanic and Latino clients. http://attcnetwork.org/regcenters/productDocs/19/A%20Guide%20for%20Conducting%20Assessment.pdf
• Addiction Technology Transfer Center Network. (n.d.). Clinical evaluation: Assessment.http://attcnetwork.org/userfiles/file/NFA-AIAN/Handouts%20ESAS%20OCT%202016%20Clin%20Eval%20Assess.pdf
• American Counseling Association. (2014). 2014 ACA code of ethics [PDF]. http://www.counseling.org/Resources/aca-code-of-ethics.pdf
• NAADAC. (2013). Code of ethics. from http://www.naadac.org/code-of-ethics

Multimedia

Watch the video to see an assessment being administered:

• Doria, T. (2014). Addiction severity index, Lisa part 1 [Video] | Transcript. https://youtu.be/d9YApsJlbqo

Optional Reading

• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2012). Screening and assessing adolescents for substance use disorders: Treatment improvement protocol (TIP) series 31. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK64364/pdf/Bookshelf_NBK64364.pdf
  • Review Chapter 1, “Introduction,” pages 1–8.
• Toggle Drawer

[u04s2] Unit 4 Study 2

Interpreting Data Discussion 1

Reading

Use The Substance-Related Disorder Assessment: A Roadmap to Effective Treatment Planning to read the following:

• Chapter 10, “Utilization of Assessment Data in Treatment Plan Development,” pages 121–135.

Learning Components

This activity will help you achieve the following learning components:

• Examine the application of assessment results for addiction issues.

[u04d1] Unit 4 Discussion 1

Assessment of Substance Use Disorders Discussion 1

For this discussion, watch the video of the ASI demonstration and respond to the following questions:

• What basic counseling skills did you observe during the assessment?
  • Based on the answers the client provides, which stage of change do you feel is most appropriate for her?
  • Is the client showing any signs of co-occurring disorders, or will you need more observation and information?
  • What additional questions might you ask about substance use?

Response Guidelines

Read the posts of your fellow learners. Respond to at least two fellow learners. Discuss your reaction to the answers they provided to the required questions, point out similarities and differences in your answers to theirs. Use citations from your readings and research to support your statements.

Learning Components

This activity will help you achieve the following learning components:

• Apply assessment concepts for ethnic and culturally diverse populations.
  • Apply assessment results and data in an addiction setting.
  • Apply knowledge of APA style for references and citations.
  • Develop communications appropriate for the audience.

Resources

• Discussion Participation Scoring Guide.
  • Addiction severity index, Lisa part 1. | Transcript

[u04d2] Unit 4 Discussion 2

Interpreting Data Discussion 2

Data from the assessment will provide an opportunity to create a problem list that will help develop measurable goals for a reduction in the problem(s). After completing the readings for this unit, utilize the media piece you watched for u04d1 and discuss the two most important problem areas in the client’s life. Discuss how the data from the assessment helped identify these problems. Provide specific detail on the problems in the client’s life and indicate how these problems might be addressed in treatment.

Response Guidelines

Read the posts of other learners and respond to at least two. For each response, analyze each learner’s problem statements and pose two questions that might help you better understand what is going on in the client’s life.

Resources

• Discussion Participation Scoring Guide.

Updates and Handouts

Periodically, information will be posted in this space for the good of the class.

Ask Your Instructor

This forum was created to provide a convenient space for you to ask questions—questions about particular assignment and discussion activities, questions about the course in general, questions about expectations. If there is something that you feel you could use help with, please post your question here. Most likely, some of your classmates will have the same concern, so your post may help several learners. If you feel your question is private, please use the Messages tool found under Notifications.