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
