Assessment and Diagnosis of Substance Use and Addictive Disorder

Introduction

A person’s use of an illicit substance often does not imply that they are suffering from an

addiction. Given this, it is critical for the professional to accurately evaluate the client to

ascertain use and regularity to determine whether the patient has a substance use disorder. The

meanings of screening, assessment, and treatment plans for drug use and addictions will be

discussed in this paper. It will also cover the significance of crisis response, the assessment

process for establishing substance use disorders and addiction problems, and factors to consider

when selecting screening and assessment techniques. An examination of the diagnostic and

Statistical Manual V (DSM-5) criteria to ascertain substance usage addiction issues and the

essential concerns that professionals face when only using the DSM-5 for treatment planning

will be discussed.

Definitions

A screening is a tool professionals use to identify the best treatment or “course of action”

for a client’s specific needs. An evaluation is a collection of tools, like test results or structured

interviews that can help a professional create an “appropriate” treatment regimen to help clients

recover (Mojtabai et al., 2021). Following the screening and assessment of a person, a treatment

plan is developed. It includes information about a person’s disease, treatment plans, and duration.

Crisis Management

When dealing with people who have addictions, crisis management is required.

Individuals who have become mentally and physically reliant on the drugs they have used may

suffer negative signs when weaning or detoxifying. This can be extremely harmful to

individuals. People detoxing from liquor, for example, can die in more severe cases. Specialists