Chemical Health Services, LLC

Free Report:  Alcohol and Drug Assessment

#1.  What should happen in an assessment?

• An alcohol or drug assessment is an interview between a client and an alcohol and other drug abuse assessor. 
  
• The assessment process should also include other additional tools such as an Adult Substance Use and Driving Survey - Revised (ASUDS-R); Michigan Alcohol Screening Test (MAST); the Mortimer-Filkins Questionnaire; the Driver Risk Inventory (DRI); the Substance Abuse/Life Circumstance Evaluation (SALCE) or other nationally recognized assessment tool along with collecting collateral information.
  
• The assessor identifies the client's alcohol and other drug use [to determine if there is problematic use or not] and develops a recommended course of action for the client based on these findings.
  
• The final outcome will result in a recommendation to action.  Sometimes there are no recommendations at all.
  
• All recommendations should include the least restrictive options for the client.  Possible outcomes can range from no recommendations at all to an education class or to inpatient treatment.  Education should be the most common referral.
  

#2.  What should NOT happen in an assessment?

• Information should not be shared with anyone without your written permission.
  
• You should not be confused about why you have been recommended to complete some type of recommendation.
  
• A referral to treatment cannot happen without documentable evidence that supports a diagnosis of "Substance Use Disorder" according to the DSM5.
  

#3.  Who can do assessments in Minnesota?

• In Minnesota, an assessor must have a minimum credential of "Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor" or "LADC".   Check our credentials              . 
  
• This license must have been issued from the Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy.
  
• Other mental health practitioners (LPC, LPCC, LMFT, LISCW) may have the proper credentials too, just ask first.
  

#4.  Even if it is covered, should I use my insurance?

• Anytime insurance pays for something it is "coded" so they know what they are paying for.  If insurance pays for an assessment it is coded as "dependent" on the drug involved.  For example: an assessment for a DWI is coded as "305.00 Alcohol Dependent".
  
• The existence of this "code" in your insurance file may create problems with future employment, entrance into the military and some insurance eligibility.
  

5.  Are there really people out there doing assessments that are NOT licensed?

• We believe that this does not happen.  In all the years we have been in business, we have never ran across someone that was scammed by an imposter.
  
• We believe that anyone warning you to watch out for this imposter is trying to create hype and fear with the hopes that you will use their services as a result.
  

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651-646-1180