What To Expect During A Drug & Alcohol Assessment

Addiction treatment services have the power to change lives for the better, but many people never get the support they need. According to SAMHSA’s 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), less than one in four Americans who needed help for a substance use disorder, also known as alcohol or drug addiction, actually received treatment in the past year (23.6%, or 12.8 million people).

At Bedrock Recovery Center, we hope that you will be a part of this group and get the care you need to be your best self. And when you do begin the treatment process, you’ll find that a drug and alcohol assessment will play an important role as a first step, helping treatment staff evaluate and understand your current condition and orient you to your new environment for a successful treatment experience.

What Is Included In A Drug And Alcohol Assessment?

Intake assessments are conducted at any drug and alcohol addiction recovery center, including Bedrock Recovery Center here in Canton, MA. First, you will receive a brief nursing assessment when you arrive at Bedrock, after which you will be shown where you will be staying during treatment. Shortly after, you will receive a longer intake assessment provided by your primary care clinician. The following outlines what you can expect.

A Warm Welcome

We understand that the more comfortable you are with your surroundings, the better you’ll be able to focus on your treatment and recovery. We make sure that all clients coming into our facility receive a warm welcome when they arrive, so that you can feel that you are in a place where you are safe and where you belong.

Safety/Risk Assessment

Addiction treatment centers are secure and calm environments dedicated to healing and growth. Your primary clinician will perform a basic safety assessment to determine if your current condition or behavior presents a risk of harm to you, to other clients, or to our staff. This may include screening for suicidal thoughts or recent suicidal activity, self-harm, and aggressive or violent behavior.

If a risk is detected, further steps will be taken on a case-by-case basis to ensure the continued safety and health of everyone involved.

Biopsychosocial Assessment

This is an in-depth interview or assessment given to evaluate many different facets of your current physical health, mental health, and personal environment.

Based on ASAM guidelines, it covers facets including:

• current medical diagnoses and prescribed medications
• history of mental health diagnoses
• your current mental state
• if you have a safe and supportive home environment
• whether you have friends and family in your life you can rely on to help you
• your financial situation and occupational status
• your history of substance use
• your most recent patterns of substance use

This may seem like a lot, but it is critically important for your treatment team to have this information on hand as they work to understand your current needs and goals. It will also be the foundation for your personalized treatment plan, which will help guide you during your treatment program and after you transition to other forms of support in the future.

Family/Emergency Contact Call And Interview

Although treatment is confidential at Bedrock, we will ask if you’d like to provide an emergency contact, someone we can reach out to in the event something unexpected happens. You and your clinician will call this person as part of the intake process and have a short conversation and orientation with them about your treatment program.

Treatment Plan Development

It will take some time to finalize your treatment plan, but during intake we will cover some of the broader approaches and services that we recommend as part of your treatment pathway, based on the results of your biopsychosocial assessment, and get some feedback from you in return.

Treatment Center Orientation

Lastly, we’ll help you become more familiarized with the treatment center and program itself, discussing the typical daily schedule, the rules we have in place, and other important details. This is a great time to ask any questions you may have, but we are always happy to answer questions as they come up too.

About Bedrock Recovery Center

Bedrock is a state-of-the-art addiction and mental health treatment facility located less than an hour’s drive from downtown Boston. We provide medical detox/stabilization services, residential programs, and aftercare planning, offering all the comforts of home as you focus on your recovery in a safe and uplifting environment. Amenities include a fitness center, yoga studio, movie theater, and meal services able to accommodate a variety of different dietary requirements.

From medical detoxification to behavioral therapy, medication-assisted treatment, dual diagnosis treatment, and more, our programs and services are customized to your individual needs. Contact us to learn more about how our comprehensive treatment services can help you achieve your recovery goals.