Sample interview questions: What assessment tools do you typically use to evaluate clients’ substance abuse issues?
Sample answer:
- Substance Abuse Screening Tools:
- AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test): Widely used to screen for alcohol misuse and dependence. It’s a brief 10-item questionnaire that assesses alcohol consumption patterns, frequency, and related problems.
- DART (Drug Abuse Screening Test): A 10-item questionnaire designed to screen for problematic drug use, including illicit drugs, prescription drugs, and inhalants. It evaluates frequency of use, consequences, and dependence symptoms.
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CAGE: A simple four-question screening tool that helps identify individuals with potential alcohol problems. It asks about Cutting down, Annoyance by criticism, Guilty feelings, and Eye-openers (morning drinking).
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Diagnostic Assessments:
- DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition): The standard diagnostic tool for substance use disorders. It provides detailed criteria for diagnosing substance abuse, dependence, and related disorders, considering factors like substance type, pattern of use, and associated impairments.
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ASAM (American Society of Addiction Medicine) Criteria: A comprehensive assessment tool that evaluates multiple domains, including substance use history, medical conditions, psychological functioning, and social and legal problems. It guides treatment recommendations and placement decisions.
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Behavioral and Psychological Assessments:
- Addiction Severity Index (ASI): A structured interview that assesses various aspects of an individual’s substance use, medical, psychiatric, legal, family, and social problems. It provides a comprehensive profile of a client’s needs and helps tailor treatment plans.
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Motivational Interviewing: A client-centered approach that helps individuals explore their ambivalence about change and increase their motivation to address substance abuse. It involves empathetic listening, open-ended questions, and reflective statements to facilitate self-awareness and commitment to change.
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