Intervention Tip #3 – Collecting Information for Treatment Planning

Getting appropriate treatment planned-out before you go ahead with your intervention makes good sense. This way, should your intervention achieve its intended goal and convince your loved one to get help, you are ready for a seamless transition into care.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of different addiction treatment options and not everyone or even most people need to go to rehab – and since you’re probably not an addiction professional you probably don’t have a clue what’s needed.

Fortunately, the information in this article can help you with this problem.

By answering the questions below and by taking the information you collect to an addiction professional, you can get a general recommendation for an appropriate treatment starting point. With this you can begin treatment-planning for your intervention.

Also, make sure to read Intervention Tip 1. on avoiding distraction and debate and Intervention Tip 2. on assessing the problem.

How to Find Appropriate Care

The needs assessment is the first essential step of the treatment process. This assessment helps addiction professionals decide on what type of treatment is most appropriate and make a treatment plan. You can’t do this without your loved one (so this will be done prior to treatment entry) but you can get a better idea about what’s needed by:

1. Collecting the type of information that’s analyzed at an assessment.
2. Asking an addiction professional to look-over this information and estimate treatment-need.
   

After getting this estimate, you’ll have a better idea of the types treatment to look for:

• Whether or not a medical detox is likely a necessary.
• Whether your loved-one needs residential care or whether they are better served with an outpatient program.
• Whether you or other family members may play a role in continuing treatment.

Collecting Information for a Treatment Assessment

1. Answer the following questions, to the best of your abilities (leave anything blank that you can’t answer).
2. Give this information to an addiction professional or to the intake person at any treatment program you are considering.
3. Answer any other questions that they may have for you.

By following these three steps, you should get an appropriate treatment recommendation (though this can’t be finalized until the in-person assessment takes place).

According to SAMHSA, information needed for a treatment assessment includes answers to the following questions:¹

• How long has the drug or alcohol abuse been going on for? What kinds of drugs or alcohol are being consumed and in what quantities?
• Has the person ever tried to quit or control their use before? Have they ever tried any form of treatment before?
• Does the person have any current co-occurring physical health problems? Does the person have a history of any serious physical health diseases or conditions?
• What medications does the person currently use and in what amounts?
• Does the person have any co-occurring mental or behavioral health problems?
• Are there any family problems that complicate the situation?
• Are there legal or financial problems that could affect treatment options?
• What is the person’s education background? Are there any school performance issues or problems that are relevant to the situation?
• What is the person’s current employment situation? Are there any work performance issues or problems that are relevant to the situation?
• What is the person’s current living situation? Is the home environment stable? Is the home environment conducive to recovery? Are there other people with alcohol or drug problems in the same living environment?
• Are there any cultural or language issues that could affect treatment needs?

With this information a professional should have enough to give you a ballpark treatment recommendation.

Continue on with Intervention Tip 1. on avoiding distraction and debate and Intervention Tip 2. on assessing the problem.