Substance abuse and drug addiction have the potential to mess up somebody’s life. Whether it be their family, finances, or even their employment, drug abuse has a way of completely ruining everything in its path of destruction.
What’s worse is that the longer someone is abusing drugs or alcohol, the more likely it is that they pose a danger to themselves and others. Seeking help is necessary. In circumstances like these, court-ordered substance abuse assessments may be necessary.
Why Drug Assessment?
Court-ordered substance abuse assessments may be necessary to address the following:
- Determining the extent of one’s addiction
- Evaluating the impact of one’s substance abuse
- Addressing the range of one’s substance abuse disorder
- Revealing whether or not dual diagnosis is necessary
- Allows the court to outline a treatment plan unique to the individual
For somebody to start receiving quality care for their drug addiction, a court-ordered drug assessment is a significant step to take. It will streamline the process for recovery so that those with substance abuse disorders can get better quicker.
It is worth mentioning that those who participate in court-ordered drug assessments reported a great amount of improvement in the area of family conflict. These people have also required little assistance in areas such as employment, education, and finances. It is safe to say that those struggling with substance abuse who end up taking a court-ordered drug assessment have a much smoother road to recovery than those who do not.
What are Drug Assessments for Court?
In short, drug assessments for the court are tests that are ultimately used to determine the range of someone’s substance abuse or addiction. Evaluating the extent of someone’s substance abuse is significant in receiving the best treatment. Not only do the assessments evaluate the vastness of the abuse, but it can also be used to determine exactly what kind of treatment is necessary for the individual.
Determining exactly which treatment is best for those with Substance Use Disorder (SUD) is essential to a person’s rehab. There is no cookie-cutter SUD treatment method; each individual is unique, and so are their needs. Drug assessments for court are a huge help when it comes to discerning as to which treatment option is best for the individual.
When substance abuse arouses suspicion for a family member or loved one, it is imperative that not a stone is left unturned when discerning what the course of action should be. Drug assessments for court are a full-proof route to take. Anybody from employers to family members can use this test.
Additional Drug Assessment Information
Court-ordered drug assessment can be used for the following circumstances:
- Reinstating a driver’s license
- Probation
- Court appearance
This particular assessment uses diagnostic screening and interviews to put together the biological, psychological, and social history of each case. After this is done, the information gathered is then analyzed to help determine which treatment is best for the individual.
Whether someone has been arrested for drug use, or a loved one is seeking assistance for someone they care about, drug assessment can help streamline the recovery process in a more thorough way than starting from scratch. In a way, the tests speak for themselves. They’re completely objective, not subject to the opinion of anybody else, and completely unbiased.
These court-ordered drug assessments take less than two hours two finish. Upon completion, a licensed professional clinician will examine the test to evaluate the history and context of drug use. This is helpful because sometimes people don’t suffer from substance abuse disorder; sometimes, these people have merely misused a substance once and it happened to result in arrest.
After this takes place, the clinician will make a recommendation and the court will decide on treatment and/or conviction. Some of these decisions include the following:
- DUI drug use reduction program
- Random urine sample drug test
- 12 step meetings
- Counseling sessions
- Inpatient treatment
- Outpatient treatment
- Detox treatment
Sometimes the court will order that somebody take these measures before a substance abuse assessment is required. If this is the case, it’s in the person’s best interest to take the court’s offer. This should be done because ultimately, it shows the court that the person wants to take responsibility for their actions and address their problems, which would expedite the whole process.
Court Recommendations for Treatment Options
Upon learning which treatment option is right for the person that took the assessment, it is best to start immediately. Rehab treatment can be scary, but the available options have proven themselves to be quite successful.
Inpatient Treatment
Inpatient treatment is used when somebody is suffering from a more serious case of substance abuse. With 24/7 access to medical personnel, if the need arises, patients live in the care of a treatment facility. This specific treatment method lasts anywhere from 28 days to six months.
Outpatient Treatment
Outpatient care is a treatment option that is designed to treat milder cases of substance abuse. Outpatient treatment gives patients access to licensed therapists and psychiatrists anywhere from 10-12 hours weekly. Lasting anywhere from three months to over an entire year, this treatment option renders itself useful for those who suffer from mild substance abuse and need to stay at home to support their families, loved ones, or themselves.
Detox
Drug detox could include the following symptoms:
- Sweating
- Fatigue
- Hallucinations
- Irritability
- Restlessness
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Seizures
- Nausea
Cutting somebody off of drugs, especially somebody struggling from substance abuse can lead to serious withdrawal. Drug cravings are difficult to manage and should be treated with the utmost care. Medically assisted treatment (MAT) uses medicine to help a patient come off of a drug comfortably.
Counseling Sessions
Counseling aids patients in evaluating their past with substance abuse. It also plays a significant role in molding their attitudes towards recovery in a more positive direction. Improving and establishing coping mechanisms for those who suffer from substance abuse is imperative to their recovery.
Circumstances for Court Ordered Assessment
Some of the most common offenses that require assessment include the following:
- DUI/DWI
- Drug trafficking
- Drug possession
- Manufacturing illegal substances
- Selling or distributing illegal substances
- Public intoxication
- Fake ID
Determining the cause for any disease, let alone substance abuse is crucial to the improvement and overall well being of somebody’s life. However, apart from that, it’s also significant to the process of drug court. A court-ordered assessment helps determine the best course of action fairly and without bias.
Sana Lake Wants to Help You Today
At Sana Lake, our top priority is making sure that you’ve cared for and recover to the best of your ability. Fear may be at the forefront of your mind at the moment. The need for quick action is important but not as valuable as evaluating the best course of action.
Acting destructively will not help anybody in these situations, especially those suffering from SUD. The best course of action in this situation may be sitting down and listening to them, and then contacting Sana Lake to help you with what comes next.
This may be excruciatingly difficult, but the reality is somebody is struggling with substance abuse. These people need help as soon as possible so that their next problem doesn’t overcomplicate what is already going on. Not only that, but families and loved ones suffer too. It is just as important that they receive help; theirs may come when they provide their loved one with the assistance they need to recover.
Sana Lake believes in coming alongside and assisting those who suffer from drug abuse, as well as their family and loved ones. Our goal is to lead them towards a life of sobriety and stability. The first step in this process may be a court-ordered drug assessment.
Treating each patient is complex due to their individual needs. This is why a court-ordered drug assessment is so vital to the recovery process; it helps in determining what individualized care a person needs.
Our philosophy is to bring people who struggle with drug addiction to a more stable sense of well-being. To do so, we assess the needs of the individual so that there are preparations in place to help fight their drug addiction and that someday they may end up living a more healthy lifestyle. Ultimately, we want to set them up for success.
We are incredibly passionate concerning all of our patients’ state of well-being. If you or a loved one wants to take the next step and take a drug assessment, you can contact us here.
References
Sana Lake Recovery Center is a Joint Commission Accredited addiction treatment program. We offer a safe and trustworthy facility for people struggling with substance abuse.
