How Do You Get a Drug or Alcohol Assessment in Colorado?

A drug or alcohol assessment in Colorado is a method that is used to assess the extent of an individual’s use, misuse, and abuse of drugs or alcohol. It is also a tool that can help in creating the most optimal treatment plan. Assessments are often used by employers, attorneys, families, and legal authorities when substance abuse is suspected. If you are looking for a Colorado addiction treatment center near Denver, call us today! A drug or alcohol assessment that’s mandated by the court is the result of legal issues, such as a drug or alcohol-related arrest. In other cases, it may be used because a loved one is concerned about potential substance use problems. Regardless, a drug or alcohol assessment in Colorado can be a crucial first step toward addiction recovery. Following a drug or alcohol evaluation in Colorado, an effective treatment plan will be created for the affected individual. The evaluation will serve as a basis of information that’ll help us tailor this plan to your specific needs. Here at Footprints to Recovery, we can help you navigate through a drug or alcohol assessment for personal or court purposes. What is a Drug or Alcohol Assessment? Substance abuse evaluations are split into two different parts. As stated by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the sections of a substance abuse evaluation consist of screening and an assessment. Substance Abuse Screening Substance abuse screening assesses an individual’s substance use patterns to determine whether or not there’s the potential of an abuse disorder being present. There are different types of screening, and the result of screening is generally yes (positive) or no (negative). If the answer is yes (positive), treatment will most likely need to be created for the recovering individual. Different variations of screenings for substance abuse include: It is worth noting that the screening part of the process is not the same as an assessment. Screening for drug and alcohol use is one of many tools that is used to assess whether or not an assessment is necessary. Drug or Alcohol Assessment The drug or alcohol assessment process is more thorough than screening. This is a way to further diagnose and assess the results of the screening. These results are then used to create a personalized treatment plan for the individual if deemed necessary. Assessments will be used to gain a thorough history of the affected individual. Drug or alcohol assessments in Colorado will cover previous substance use patterns, mental health, physical health, medical history, family history, and personal history. Remember, there’s no reason to be nervous about a drug or alcohol assessment! The drug or alcohol assessment is merely a way to find out more about your or a loved one’s addiction. Examples of questions you may be asked include: Preparing For a Drug and Alcohol Assessment You or a loved one may have to take a drug or alcohol assessment for personal purposes, or due to a court mandate. Whichever the case, you’ll need to have certain documents with you regardless. These documents may include: a copy of the results of your Needs Assessment if you went to a DUI Alcohol or Drug Use Risk Reduction Program (RRP), a report from the Department of Driver Services or Department of Motor Vehicles describing your driving history (generally going back 7 years), a copy of any criminal history or arrests, and a copy of the arrest report. A drug or alcohol assessment generally takes anywhere from 60 to 90 minutes. A certified addiction specialist will walk you through each step. A thorough review of your drug or alcohol abuse history will also take place to get the most accurate analysis for a treatment plan to be created. Why Are Drug or Alcohol Assessments Mandated by Court? A drug or alcohol assessment mandated by the court is used to determine whether or not the affected individual has a substance use problem. These mandated assessments are often a result of a substance-related assessment. For example, the individual may have been driving under the influence or caught with an illegal substance. Following a drug or alcohol assessment given by the court, at least one of the following may be mandated: What is the Purpose of a Drug or Alcohol Assessment Mandated by Court? Drug or alcohol assessments hold the purpose of determining whether or not the individual is struggling with addiction. This assessment is a collection of questions and means by which an addiction specialist can analyze you or a loved one. The goal is to give help to those who need it. These assessments serve as a thorough evaluation. After the evaluation, a treatment plan is put in place if deemed necessary. There are many reasons as to why a drug or alcohol assessment is mandated by the court: A Drug or Alcohol Assessment in Colorado Can Help You Jumpstart Addiction Recovery Addiction recovery consists of many treatment services tailored to the unique individual to overcome addiction, as well as any co-occurring disorders. Addiction recovery is a journey that requires a plan and action to be taken. However, the most important part is that first step. Taking the first step in seeking help can be scary. A drug or alcohol assessment in Colorado can help you be honest with yourself, so you can take those initial steps in addiction recovery. Coming to terms with any toxic behaviors and patterns allows you to find a solution so that you can learn healthier ways of coping. In treatment, you’ll learn how to develop skills that’ll help you long after you leave our recovery center. It also helps to remember that the medical professionals and law officials around you want to help you, so be honest when any questions are asked! Honesty is what will allow us to create the most accurate and thorough treatment plan for you or a loved one. The court-mandated drug or alcohol
Rebutting the 5 Most Heard Excuses for Not Getting Treatment

Asking for help can often be a difficult task for a lot of people. For someone struggling in their addiction, it can almost be easier to justify why they “shouldn’t get treatment”. Many professionals can attest to hearing their fair share of reasons from clients, but they all have one thing in common. They are all excuses that people come up with when they are having difficulty accepting the severity of their use and the impact it has had on their lives. Rarely do people come into treatment with a smile on their face and a happy go lucky attitude. More often than not, people come with a wave of emotions, including anger, frustration, guilt and shame. It is important to emphasize that though people may come in with these emotions, it outweighs the cost of not seeking help when it is needed. Here are some of the most common excuses that professionals hear from clients as to why they shouldn’t seek treatment: 1. Financials. It is important to emphasize that the cost of attending treatment heavily outweighs the risk of not attending. Take a moment to think about the cost of obtaining your drug of choice and then add all the other incidentals that come with it, such as lost paychecks from a job, lawyers, etc. The cost of maintaining an addiction is tremendous. There are always ways to make treatment more affordable and programs that will be willing to work with you. Think of it as an investment into a better future. 2. Timing. There is never a “perfect time” to do anything in life, just like there is never a perfect time to go seek treatment. There will always be obstacles, events happening and things to do. Ask yourself this question, would you rather be in treatment now and have the rest of your life a head of you or would you rather your addiction control your life and never get to fully live it. Be present in the now and take control of your own life. Don’t let your addiction do it for you, because here’s a secret, it does not have your best interests in mind. Use the time you have now before it’s gone. The only thing unforgiving in this life is time. It will keep moving forward with or without you. 3. I can do it on my own. Addiction is a disease that is meant to manipulate someone into thinking they are invincible and smart enough to beat it. If someone you love was diagnosed with a fatal disease, would you agree that they shouldn’t get treatment because they believe don’t need help and can do it themselves? Probably not. Denial is a key symptom of addiction that can cause someone’s reality to be skewed. Do not be afraid to ask for help or admit that you can’t do it yourself. It is one of the strongest and bravest things someone can do. 4. Jobs. Most people use this excuse as “I need to work to make money” or “Ill lose my job if I don’t go in”. Legally, there are laws in place to help protect employment while in treatment. In addition, treatment centers will often help their clients find jobs to support their goals. If you continue to use this excuse while in active addiction, chances are that you may end up losing your job from use anyway. Your health and wellness should always be the priority. There will always be another job, but there will not always be opportunities to save yourself from a deadly disease like addiction. 5. Family and loved ones. Many people use their family, including spouses and children, as reasons why they should not seek treatment. This can be valid at times. However, if you are in active addiction, think about what this is doing to your family and loved ones. If someone is constantly coming home intoxicated or high, think about what this looks like to a child or a spouse. Are you really being the best you can be for your family if you are active in addiction? Chances are family and loved ones WANT you to get the help you need so that you can be there for them. Family members can even get involved in treatment for further support. They would rather see you in treatment working on yourself than lose you to your addiction. Taking the steps to seek treatment, for some people, can be the factor between life and death. Addiction can be a fatal disease that has already taken the lives of too many. Denial can be the toughest part in initiating that first step into treatment. On the outside looking in, it can be easy to identify the problem and understand when someone needs help. For the addict, it may not always be that simple. That is why it is important for family and friends, along with professionals, to be supports and help individuals work through their excuses and reasons not to seek help. There are no negatives to getting treatment for addiction. Don’t let denial or the barriers your addiction makes for you be the excuse for not seeking help. Remember to Find Your Reason to seek treatment and turn someday into today. Author: Lauren Tropiano, MA, LAC, NCC – Footprints to Recovery – Clinical Therapist
Should You Hold an Intervention?

While on the surface, an intervention might seem pretty straightforward and easy, it’s actually an incredibly complicated ordeal that involves a lot of moving parts. Not only do you have to get the group together and figure out a time and place that works for everyone, but you also have to convince the person who you think needs an intervention to come to the location where it’s going to take place. So, how do you go about holding an intervention? Well, let’s take a look. What is an Intervention? In the simplest of terms, an intervention is an occurrence in which a person with a problem, such as a drug or alcohol addiction, is confronted by a group of friends or family members. The goal of an intervention is to compel the person to acknowledge and deal with the problem. What Happens During an Intervention? As we discussed in the intro, on the surface, an intervention seems like a pretty straight forward thing. A family member or loved one is suffering from a problem, usually a drug or alcohol addiction, and doesn’t see how it is not only negatively affecting themselves, but others in their lives as well. You gather everyone together, including the person suffering from the addiction, where you sit them down and tell them how their addiction is affecting themselves and others. It seems pretty simple, right? Well, in most cases, it’s anything but simple. First off, it’s likely going to be difficult to convince the addict to even show up for the intervention. You will likely have to figure out a way to get them to show up without them knowing what’s really going on. After you get them there, be prepared for a lot of anger, hostility, and animosity. Chances are the person suffering doesn’t think they have a problem. Or, they think that it’s not affecting others. While you and the others participating know this is not the case, it could cause some disagreements and heated arguments. During the intervention, you and the others participating will take turns sharing how the person’s addiction has either hurt you, hurt themselves, or have adversely affected your relationship. An ultimatum will likely need to be given in order to hammer home just how serious this is. In most cases, the intervention will involve undergoing some sort of addiction treatment. It’s important that everyone participating in the intervention agree to the ultimatum beforehand, and all remain on the same page during the intervention. If one person deviates from the plan, it can ruin the entire intervention. How Do You Plan an Intervention? Like the entire process, planning an intervention is more complicated than it may seem. Here are some things to consider when planning an intervention. Getting a team together The only way that an intervention can be truly effective is to get a group of close friends and family members together. These should be people that not only care deeply for the addict but people that the addict also cares deeply for and respects. If you would like to bring in a professional to help with the intervention, they will need to be included in this team as well. Learn about the process Unless you or someone in the group you have picked has been through an intervention before, then chances are you will need to study up on the process. Many people choose to hire a professional such as a therapist or interventionist who have experience in running interventions to help with the process. If you choose to run it yourself, it is important that you do your homework. Pick a time and place If your intervention is going to involve several people, this can be difficult. You will need to make sure to pick a time and place that works for everyone. When it comes to picking the location, make sure it is somewhere that the person who needs the intervention will feel safe. This will help make them feel more comfortable, which will hopefully help make the intervention more effective. Learn about their addiction If you haven’t already, take the time to learn not just about their addiction, but the recovery process as well. If you go into this with knowledge about not just the addiction, but the options they have as far as treatment and recovery go, they are more likely to take the intervention seriously. Presenting options will make it feel less like you are ganging up on them, and make them realize that you are here to help them. Prepare a statement It’s crucial that all the participants in the intervention prepare a written statement that they will want to read during the intervention. By preparing a statement in advance, this will allow you to put all your thoughts down on paper in a constructive way while taking a lot of the emotion out of it. Written statements about the impact on relationships can help the person struggling with addiction to understand that their struggle does not impact them alone. Hope for the best, but plan for the worst It’s important to remember that, no matter how much planning and rehearsing goes into an intervention, there’s a chance it will not go well. Just because it didn’t go well doesn’t mean that you failed. Many times addicts don’t want to acknowledge that they have a problem. It’s important to have a plan in place just in case the intervention does not go as well as you would have hoped. You may want to give an ultimatum or even stop any enabling behaviors and limit access to finances, housing, or any other support you provide that enables addictive behaviors to continue. What NOT To Do During an Intervention We talked about all the things to focus on doing during an intervention; now it’s time to talk about the things to avoid doing. Because an intervention is such a tricky thing to pull off, it’s important not only to
What is Person-First Language?

Person-first language is a way of communicating that respects individuals with issues such as drug and alcohol misuse, mental health disorders, or disabilities. The goal of using person-first language is to recognize the person first rather than their disorder by avoiding terms that can be deemed derogatory. Words can hold a lot of meaning, and simply changing the way we use certain phrases, even when they mean the exact same thing, can make a difference in how people perceive it. For example, if you are addressing an individual with drug addiction, rather than using the term “junkie,” a better alternative you can use is “person with a substance use disorder.” Not only are words like “junkie” and “addict” demeaning to the person, but it also makes it seem like the condition is permanently affecting this individual and that he or she cannot change. We all know that if someone really wants to become substance-free, they will work hard to accomplish that goal. This is something that a person can undoubtedly change about themselves. Individuals that are Seeking Addiction Treatment Also, if an individual is currently receiving treatment for his or her substance misuse, it’s best to refer to that individual as a “patient.” It lets that person know that they are working on becoming substance-free, whereas the demeaning terms are doing nothing other than reminding that person that they have an addiction. Using person-first language is also how you can show respect and let an individual know that you see them for who they are as a person, not their condition. We live in a world where labels can make or break a person. Diagnoses are no different. Fortunately, most physical healthcare providers don’t allow diagnoses to define their patients. They see a diagnosis as a small piece of the individual who is learning to survive, despite a medical battle. Unfortunately, we allow addiction to define approximately 21.5 million Americans each day. Society views those diagnosed with cancer, diabetes, asthma, and other medical conditions as unfortunate victims of a disease that requires treatment, support, and assistance. Why is Person-First Language Important? A person’s mental health disorder or disability does not define who they are, so why would we want to address someone in that way? This is one of the many reasons why it’s important to start using person-centered language, especially in a therapy or rehabilitation setting. There is more to someone than his or her mental health disorder, and using person-first language allows you to put the individual first rather than his or her disorder. A person could have many wonderful skills and talents, but addressing him or her as an addict or junkie makes that negative attribute the center of attention rather than their positive ones. It makes a person feel bad knowing that they have a lot to offer but are only seen as a negative part of society. We live in a world where people are constantly getting labeled. Sometimes those labels are good, but other times they can be quite bad. Labeling individuals has a powerful effect because it’s the first impression you get of that person. Nobody ever likes making a terrible first impression, and the way you address someone can either make them look like a bad person or a wonderful person. How to Address an Alcoholic For example, when people think of an alcoholic, the worst things come to mind automatically, and nobody wants anything to do with that alcoholic because they know how dangerous they can become. If you wanted to use person-first language, you would address that person as “someone experiencing an alcohol problem.” Yes, it means the same thing, but the term “alcoholic” has more of a negative connotation to it. When you see someone as a person who is experiencing an alcohol problem, you begin to empathize with them. You don’t see them as a danger to society, but rather as someone who has a problem and needs help. That is why words matter and why using person-first language is important. Conversely, those who abuse illicit substances are at times viewed as offenders, moral failures, and agents of their illness. The medical community utilizes scientifically proven medications and lifesaving treatments to stabilize and manage those with chronic physical health conditions. On the other hand, the idea of medication to treat addiction, or Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT), is oftentimes viewed by society as a crutch or replacing one addiction for another. Medications for other chronic physical health conditions are not referred to as MAT, although they are used to manage physical conditions along with healthy lifestyle changes and behavioral modification the same way MAT is utilized in addiction treatment. Medications to treat substance use disorders such as Buprenorphine, Naltrexone, and Methadone Maintenance should not require a different label. How Using Person-First Language Can Make a Difference Using person-first language may seem like a small thing, but it can make a huge difference in how a person sees themselves. Especially in an addiction therapy setting, putting the person before their addiction is key to helping them recover. It shows that you care about them as a person and that you want them to get better. It lets the person receiving treatment know that they are not their addiction. They are a person who happens to have a substance misuse disorder that they are working on fixing. This individual needs to believe that they matter. Stigma and discrimination, simply stated, are the reasons for the behavioral health disparity. The solution, although a bit more complex, begins with simple changes. To reduce the stigma of substance use disorders, we must support the implementation of clinical language that promotes improved treatment and access to care. To improve care, we must use medically accurate, person-first language that focuses on the individual and not the disorder. We must begin to describe those with the disease of addiction as individuals with substance use disorders. To change treatment outcomes, we must alter the language of treatment.