Substance use disorder testing instrument

Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT)

Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) is a screening tool that is used to identify the level of alcohol consumption. It is used to help risky drinkers or individuals who drink too much and suffer from harmful consequences such as physical or mental harm, and other alcohol-related problems (Biddle & Babor, 2018). Many excessive drinkers go undiagnosed, but with this tool, the health care practitioners or non-health professionals can identify whether an individual had alcohol dependence. AUDIT is administered through a lifestyle questionnaire in primary care settings. Note that some patients may be unwilling to answer alcohol-related questionnaire or admit that they have alcohol-related problems. Factors such as alcohol intoxication and mental impairment may hinder clients from answering the questions correctly. However, research finds that there are factors that influence the patient to answer questions correctly. They include; a friendly interviewer, straightforward questions, confidential information, the screening is done when the patient is sober, and the purpose of the questionnaire is clearly stated (Biddle & Babor, 2018). Therefore, health care practitioners should ensure that these conditions are present to meet the goals.

Healthcare practitioners should not interview severely impaired patients. They should wait for the patient to be conscious and comfortable with the condition and also with the primary care setting (Biddle & Babor, 2018).  When the patient is stable, the health worker should inform the patient about the purpose of the interview and the questions to be asked. For example, the health worker can start by saying 'Now, I would like to know your drinking habits of alcoholic beverages such as beer, whiskey, wine, vodka, among others, in the past year. I request you to be truthful so that we can identify whether alcohol has impacted your health (Biddle & Babor, 2018). After giving an illustrative introduction, the health worker should start asking questions such as ‘do you drink alcoholic beverages?  How often?  When was the last time you drank?  Have you ever experienced health problems such as memory loss?  When asking these questions, the health worker should record answers since they will be used for interpretation.

  In interpreting results, the health care practitioner will evaluate the scores. For example, the points may be from 0-10. Low risks will be 0-4, while high risks will be five or greater.  0-4 means that the patient does not have alcoholic problems, and five or higher means that the patient is drinking too much, and he should stop drinking altogether (Meneses-Gaya et al., 2009).  The healthcare professional should help the patient stop drinking. He should evaluate the alcohol use disorder such as patients consume alcohol in large amounts; patients do not desire to cut down alcohol use; patients spend much time using alcohol, among other symptoms. If the health care practitioners confirm that there is a potential alcohol problem, he should educate the client on the effect of alcohol use, provide materials and services, and build a strategic alliance with NGO and religious groups (Meneses-Gaya et al., 2009). Note that the ultimate goal of alcohol disorder testing is to help the patient reduce drinking. Thus, after conducting the diagnostic system and evaluating the nature of problem drinking, health practitioners can provide other interventions such as environmental-level interventions and individual-level intervention.  The former intervention aims at controlling the availability of alcohol, and the latter aims at changing the client's attitudes (Meneses-Gaya et al., 2009). In both responses, schools and families, should intervene and help clients, especially youth, to stop drinking by providing knowledge, skills, rules, and expectations.

 

 

References

 

Higgins-Biddle, J. C., & Babor, T. F. (2018). A review of the Alcohol Use Disorders

Identification Test (AUDIT), AUDIT-C, and USAUDIT for screening in the United

States: Past issues and future directions. The American journal of drug and

alcohol abuse, 44(6), 578-586.

 

 

de Meneses-Gaya, C., Zuardi, A. W., Loureiro, S. R., & Crippa, J. A. S. (2009). Alcohol Use

Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT): An updated systematic review of psychometric

properties. Psychology & Neuroscience, 2(1), 83.

  

 

Assignment 2

Risk assessment checklist

 The purpose of assessment is to improve the treatment plan of clients with the co-occurring disorder (COD) while screening is a testing process to identify a particular disease and determine whether a further assessment is needed (SAMHSA, 2005).  In screening, health care practitioners apply basic counseling skills to ensure that if the client screening turns out positive, a thorough assessment is needed. Therefore, assessment involves understanding the nature of the problem and developing treatment planning. Unlike screening, the assessment goes further to obtain demographic information, problem areas, stage of treatment, and severity of the COD. The main role of assessment is to ensure that the client receives the appropriate mental disorder care (SAMHSA, 2005). Before creating the risks assessment checklist, it is important to understand that risk assessment identifies the harm that the client with mental and substance problem may cause to self or others.  From interview and observation, the health care practitioner can identify dangerous behaviors. 

Questions during the risk assessment

• Have you had any thought of ending your life or life of others?
• How do you feel at the moment?
• Have you ever had emotional problems?
• Did you talk to a counselor concerning the emotional problems?
• Have you ever had anxiety attacks?
• Are you aggressive?
• Do you need a remedy for these problems?
• Which method of treatment do you prefer?
• Do you have an interest in change?

 

 Risk assessment checklist

 

Minimal risk	Low risk	Moderate risk	Serious risk	Extreme risk
- No  suicidal thoughts  and no distress	-No  suicidal thoughts  currently -Had suicidal thoughts in the past	-Current suicidal thoughts but no conscious plan -Extreme distress   -Excessive  use of drugs	-Current suicidal thought -Expressed intention of  suicidal -Excessive substance use	-Current suicidal thoughts -No  barriers to committing suicide -Past attempts   of suicide
-Self-care  and care for others	- Substance use  but no harmful behaviors -Self-neglect in the past	-No  self-care -Self-neglect	-No self-care	-Self-harm and harm to others

 

The above criteria is used to determine if the client has a serious mental problem and a substance abuse problem. The psychiatrist should assess the severity of the symptoms and determine if the client needs a substance abuse treatment. Before initiating treatment, the practitioner should find out if the client is taking any medication, and if he is visiting any mental health manager (SAMHSA, 2005). The purpose of asking this question is to promote collaboration and case management. The practitioner should also assess the strengths and supports to understand if the client can manage his condition. This promotes treatment engagement, especially for patients suffering from substance use disorder. Note that some clients have talents and interests, motivation to change, among other factors that may promote positive substance abuse outcome (SAMHSA, 2005). In providing treatment, it is essential to consider cultural needs through conducting the cultural assessment. Note that some patients may cause conflict in treatment to cultural issues. Thus, the practitioner should provide an individualized intervention concerning cultural factors. Another critical point is that the practitioner should create a therapeutic alliance to motivate the client to engage in a treatment plan (SAMHSA, 2005). Clinicians should also aid in recovery, which means that they should help clients change behaviors and live a meaningful lives, and more importantly, develop the ability for self-care, care for others, and self-worth.

 

 

 

 

 

Reference

 

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (SAMHSA). (2005). Substance abuse treatment for persons with co-occurring disorders: Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series, No. 42. Center for Substance Abuse Treatment