Chapter 5 Flashcards
What are the three assessment tasks discussed in the chapter, and how do they inform addiction treatment?
Screening, evaluation, and diagnosis inform addiction treatment by providing ongoing information needed to help individuals, rather than serving as a mere prelude to treatment.
Where do people with SUDs and their families typically turn up for help, and why are their issues often missed?
They turn up in emergency rooms, primary care clinics, mental health clinics, correctional systems, and social service agencies, but their addiction symptoms may present as injuries, family conflict, or mental health problems, leading to under-recognition.
Why is routine screening in health and social service settings important?
It helps prevent SUDs from being missed and ensures people who could benefit from addiction treatment receive it.
How is screening different from diagnosis and evaluation?
Screening detects the possible presence of a problem, diagnosis confirms a disorder, and evaluation provides a thorough assessment.
What are the two types of mistakes in screening?
False positives (incorrectly detecting a problem) and false negatives (failing to detect an actual problem).
What determines the frequency of false positives and false negatives in screening?
The sensitivity threshold or cutoff point of the test.
Why is screening for addiction complex in health and social service settings?
Because addiction occurs along a continuum of severity, and screening should detect problems early.
How does screening differ between general health/social service settings and specialist addiction treatment settings?
People in specialist settings are more aware of their substance use problems, while those in general settings may not recognize their addiction.
What can help reduce defensiveness when screening for SUDs?
Mixing substance-use questions with other health and social issues.
What is an example of a simple screening question for unhealthy alcohol use?
“How many times in the past year have you had five or more drinks (men) or four or more drinks (women) in a day?”
What are two widely used alcohol screening questionnaires?
The CAGE and the AUDIT.
How does the AUDIT-C differ from the AUDIT?
The AUDIT-C is tailored for women with a lower drinking threshold for risk.
What is the DUDIT used for?
Screening for illicit drug use.
What advantage does the ACASI-ASSIST screening method have?
It reduces sensitivity to stigmatized questions and accommodates clients with reading difficulties.
When might biological measures be helpful in screening for SUDs?
When self-report honesty is in question, such as in legal or employment situations.
What is a widely used biological marker for smoking cessation studies?
Cotinine levels in plasma samples.
What is a disadvantage of GGT and CDT tests for heavy drinking?
They have low sensitivity and are affected by factors like age, gender, and liver disease.
Why is urine screening for drug use sometimes unreliable?
Detection windows are short and influenced by metabolism, drug potency, and administration route.
What is a newer method of drug screening that may be more accurate than urine tests?
Exhaled breath testing.
Why are subtle tests for addiction not recommended?
They do not perform better than direct screening measures.
What is the main goal of evaluating addiction problems?
To understand the nature of substance use and develop effective treatment plans.
What are the four broad domains of addiction evaluation?
Substance use severity, motivation for change, client strengths/resources, and functional analysis.
What is a good way to start assessing substance use with a client?
Ask open-ended questions about their substance use patterns.
How can substance use consequences be measured?
Using tools like the Drinker Inventory of Consequences (DrInC) or the Addiction Severity Index (ASI).
Why is motivation for change important in addiction treatment?
Higher motivation is associated with better treatment adherence and outcomes.
What is a simple way to assess motivation for change?
Using a 0–10 scale to rate importance, confidence, and commitment to change.
What is the Commitment to Sobriety Scale (CSS) used for?
Assessing an individual’s dedication to maintaining sobriety.
Why is assessing client strengths important in addiction treatment?
Mobilizing strengths and social supports improves recovery and reduces relapse risk.
What tool can help assess personal strengths in clients?
The Strengths Assessment Worksheet (SAW).
What role does social support play in addiction recovery?
Stronger support networks increase the likelihood of maintaining sobriety.
What is the purpose of a functional analysis in addiction treatment?
To understand triggers and consequences that reinforce substance use.
How can high-risk situations for substance use be identified?
Using tools like the Inventory of Drinking Situations (IDS).
What is a key principle in evaluating addiction?
Assessment should be an ongoing process, not just a prelude to treatment.
How is diagnosis different from screening and evaluation?
Diagnosis confirms whether an individual meets criteria for a disorder.
What is the most common structured diagnostic interview for SUDs?
The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5.
