Assessment

Assessments are not the same as treatment. The goal of an assessment is to determine what might be the next steps to take toward finding some relief. The problem could be related to drinking, drug use, gambling, or the effects of someone else's AODA issues. It could be that the questions have been answered for a long time and never been discussed with anyone. Consider the following questions:

• How do you know when your drinking/drug use has become a problem?
• How much is too much?
• What is a normal amount of drinking?
• How can my drinking/drug use be a problem when I only do it once a week?
• Do I need to quit, or can I just cut down?
• How long have I been asking these questions?
• How many times have I said that it's time to do something about this?

Whether you choose to utilize services here or from a treatment provider, an assessment involves a series of questions. The following are examples of the kinds of questions you might expect to be asked. Remember that these are only examples, and that the assessment could also include different questions:

• Which substances have you used?
• What has been the typical pattern of your use? How much? How often?
• Has your tolerance changed?
• Does it seem to take more to get to the effect you want?
• How often have you tried to quit?
• Have others said you need to quit, or that you have a problem?
• Have you ever felt guilty about your use?
• Do you use alone?

Answering these questions with thought and honesty will help the person providing the assessment to give you some suggestions about what you might do next. An assessment might be the first opportunity you've taken to say out loud what you already know. Sometimes we just need some help finding the right place to find the right kind of support.