"Lana- Thank you for everything you have done to help me see myself."

Scott (sober date- 10/31/09)

Substance Abuse/Dependence & Mental Health Evaluation:

I provide evaluations of one's substance use/abuse/dependence and mental health functioning. Some of the formal tools I have experience utilizing are: M.A.S.T. (Michigan Alcohol Screening Test), D.A.S.T. (Drug Abuse Screening Test), A.S.I. (Addiction Severity Index), SASSI (Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory), CAGE, general mental status exam, Beck's Depression Inventory, in addition to determining if clients meet DSM-IV-TR substance abuse and/or dependence criteria.

Clients who have addiction disorders generally benefit from a combination of individual, group, and (when appropriate) family counseling.

Group counseling (coming soon...) Addiction tends to isolate clients so they are alone or only with "using" friends, which underscores the importance of group counseling. 

Individual counseling can address the underlying issues or co-occurring disorders (ex. depression & anxiety) often associated with addiction and allow for clients to process painful issues in a more private setting.

Family counseling can heal old wounds, open up communication between family members, and help the entire family system restructure itself into healthier ways of interacting and coping now that the family member with substance abuse/dependence is seeking help. 

Adolescents and adults in recovery also benefit from establishing a Sober Support system, sober fun activities, and healthy coping skills. See the Young Adult section.

Counseling &/or support groups for family members of alcoholics/addicts is often as important as treatment for the alcoholic/addict because it is typically family who inadvertently enable the the addiction to continue.

Even if the addict isn't ready to receive help, when family members change, the addict must change too or find a new enabler.

Support Groups for Family Members (& friends) of an individual struggling with addiction:

Al-Anon (family/friends of alcoholics): www.al-anon-co.org   &   Nar-Anon (family/friends of addicts): www.nar-anon.org

- To see if Al-Anon/Alateen/Nar-Anon could help, take this quiz: Did You Grow Up With a Problem Drinker?

Are you concerned that you or a family member/friend have an alcohol or drug problem?

One way to informally determine this is to look at the DSM-IV TR (diagnostic statistical manual) criteria for substance abuse or dependence (addiction). In order to determine with certainty either of these diagnoses, you or your loved one would need to be assessed by a licensed mental health professional, certified addictions counselor, or psychiatrist.

In general, substance abuse interferes with one's ability to fulfill major role obligations (family, work, school & other responsibilities) and causes relationship conflicts. Substance abuse (and dependence) can significantly limit one's potential and cause clients to struggle to reach their life goals.

Substance dependence (addiction) is a more serious diagnosis than substance abuse. Nora Volkow, Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), describes addiction as wanting to stop doing something, but not being able to do so despite catastrophic consequences.

Determining if a person has a substance abuse/dependence issue is not a judgment about their use of a substance (ex. alcohol is legal). It is a conclusion about the consequences of a person's use of a substance. If a person's substance use is consistently causing them or others harm or problems related to major areas of life (physical health, mental health, relationships, work, school, financial management, etc.), it is likely that this individual has a substance abuse/dependence issue.

Help is available. Recovery is possible! See services above as well as the Resources section.

One powerful visual depiction of addiction is a dance piece entitled "Addiction" by famous choreographer Mia Michaels http://dancejam.com. The song "Gravity" that accompanies it also poignantly describes addiction, especially the line, "You're keeping me down".