Assessment

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Assessment Index

The drug assessments described below are based on current models and frameworks of drug use. While schedules, screening tools and checklists may help guide staff, professional judgment based on experience and clinical knowledge will also be required. The term "drug" is used to describe all drugs including alcohol, prescription drugs and illegal drugs.
Contents
Brief Description of Page	Go Directly to Web Page
Drug Assessment Interview Schedule Drug Assessment Proforma Drug Management Case Plan Psycho-Social Drug Assessment Risk Assessment Checklist for Parental Drug Use Severity of Dependence Screening Instrument (SDS) AUDIT Screening Instrument On-Line Alcohol & Drug Problem & Dependency Screening Instruments Alcohol Treatment Assessment Instruments Assessment as Intervention Using the GROW Coaching Method Community Drug Assessment Community Drug Management Action Planning	Drug Assessment Interview Schedule Drug Assessment Proforma Drug Management Case Plan Psycho-Social Drug Assessment Risk Assessment Checklist for Parental Drug Use Severity of Dependence Screening Instrument (SDS) AUDIT Screening Instrument On-Line Alcohol & Drug Problem & Dependency Screening Instrument (USA & UK) Alcohol Treatment Assessment Instruments(USA) Assessment as Intervention Using the GROW Coaching Method Community Drug Assessment Community Drug Management Action Planning
Assessment tool or guideline and description	Indications
-Drug Assessment Interview Schedule- Provides a brief (initial) drug assessment as well as a more comprehensive assessment. Contains a schedule of well ordered questions and occasional comments.	Useful for initial and longer drug assessments, particularly where drug use is a primary feature. Can also be used as a checklist of drug-related domains. Not to be used as an interrogation tool.
-Drug Assessment Proforma- The three parts of this brief proforma include drug history, problem list, and summary page.	This briefer, fill-in-the-spaces proforma helps to guide and record a drug assessment. Compact and concise.
-Drug Management Case Plan- A useful summary of drug assessment with analysis of strengths and weaknesses on which a drug management intervention plan is based.	A more comprehensive adjunct for case formulation following an assessment. Will help both client and worker become more clear and specific around short-term goals, outcomes and action planning.
-Psycho-Social Drug Assessment- Based on The Emergency Services Child Abuse Prevention Program, this family assessment model identifies strengths and limitations of individual, interpersonal and environmental factors. Resources around these factors are also identified. Further program information is available.	This assessment guide is part of a program outline which is useful for clinical staff and program planners dealing with children living in households with substance abusers. It is useful for those attempting a more systemic intervention around parental drug use issues.
-Risk Assessment Checklist for Parental Drug Use- This checklist designed for both clients and staff, make specific connections between drug use and parenting issues. This checklist gives some indication of strengths and weaknesses although primarily focused on problems associated with use.	Particularly useful in child protection issues where drug use is a key feature. May help identify some 'bottom line' factors as well as tracking improvements, for those clients who are difficult to engage in treatment.
-Severity of Dependence Screening Instrument (SDS)- This adapted instrument has five short questions to measure degree of dependence, a brief section on problem identification and contact details for those seeking assistance.	Useful as either a self-completion or staff assisted questionnaire. Covers alcohol and other drug use.
-AUDIT Screening Instrument- AUDIT is an alcohol screening instrument developed by the W.H.O. It has ten questions relating to consumption, degree of dependence and problems associated with use. It takes about 2 minutes to complete and about 1 minute to score.	Given Australia's high alcohol consumption, this self-completion instrument could be used for most clients, particularly if no other screening instrument is used. May help to identify hazardous drinking patterns in pre-contemplators.
-On-Line Alcohol & Drug Problem & Dependency Screening Instruments- Two brief screening instruments which can be completed on-line with automatic feedback and advice returned almost immediately.	Aids in providing the client with 'independent' assessment and feedback about dependency and drug problems. The second instrument only identifies alcohol dependency. Useful for those who like something a bit different.
-Alcohol Treatment Assessment Instruments- A table of around 80 alcohol assessment, screening and treatment planning instruments is presented. Further information on each test (such as availability, cost, administrative issues etc.) are also available.	Very useful for those interested in standardised alcohol screening and assessment instruments for adults and adolescents. While it is very well set out, its volume is daunting for the uninitiated. Instruments for assessing other drug use not included.
-Assessment as intervention using the GROW Coaching Method- GROW (Goal, Reality, Options, What) is an interview method which provides client self-awareness/assessment aimed at developing a short-term action plan.	Most useful for those who are thinking or doing something about drug use issues. Requires reasonable cognitive skills by the client. Very helpful if client is feeling 'stuck' around dealing with a drug-related issue.
-Community Drug Assessment- This checklist of possible community-initiatives is based on the WA Strategy Against Drug Abuse Action Plan 1997-1999. It provides questions on a broad range of community-based options, well ordered under the six headings of Education, Health Services, Community Support Services, Law Enforcement, Community Action and Other Community Service Areas.	Those interested in community development as well as the general thrust of the WA Drug Strategy would benefit from these assessment questions. Consider consulting with your local Community Drug Service Team, Local Drug Action Group and District Crime Prevention/Community Policing Committee when using this document.
-Community Drug Management Action Planning- This action planning site contains steps of community action, and templates for community-based drug assessment, community drug action planning and review sheets.	These steps and work-sheets should be use in conjunction with the Community Drug Assessment above. The adaptable templates and steps will be useful for those who are about to take action or taking action on community work around drug (or other) issues.

Drug Assessment Standards

The following drug assessment standards should form the base of whatever assessment procedure is used within the context of the FCS mandate.

Drug assessment should:

		be integrated with an overall assessment;
		identify how exactly drug issues relate to the presenting issue;
		have a purpose which is known by both client and worker;
		be an ongoing process involving initial evaluation, case formulation, and tracking progress through review procedures;
		identify personal and systemic strengths and weaknesses;
		identify both functional aspects of drug use along with problems;
		be a collaborative venture as assessment is a significant intervention in its own right;
		be tailored to specific situations using identifiable frameworks based on the most appropriate model; and
		discriminate between those fixed, unchangeable factors and dynamic, changeable factors.

Related Internet Sites

Click here for a brief outline of a drug assessment from
"An Introduction to Wroking With Alcohol & Other Drug Issues"
by Victorian Eastern Drug & Alcohol Service (EDAS) 1999
Click here for their referral & screening instrument

Related DrugNet Pages

[ Assessment Interview ] [ Assessment Tool ] [ Case Plan ] [ Screening ] [ On-Line Screening ] [ AUDIT ] [ CAGE Alcohol Screen ] [ GROW ] [ Community Assessment ] [ Community Plan ] [ Psycho-Social Assessment ]

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