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4
ASSESSMENT
Seeking help is the first important step to recovery. The next step
in the process is to meet with a clinician. A clinician is a health
professional such as a physician, psychiatrist, psychologist, social
worker, or nurse. During this first appointment, the clinician will
determine if the patient has a stimulant use disorder and complete
an assessment. The goal of the assessment is to understand the
severity of the patient's illness and their treatment needs. This
helps the clinician and patient develop a treatment plan.
Getting Started
• The clinician will ask questions to understand all the factors
that contribute to the patient's addiction. The more that is
known, the better treatment can be planned with the patient.
The patient will likely be asked about:
» Current drug and alcohol use
» Withdrawal symptoms
» History of substance use
» Family history of addiction and mental health problems
» Mental health concerns
» Physical health concerns
» Support systems
» Available safe, stable housing
» Motivation for change
• The next step is a complete physical examination to check
the patient's overall health. This includes screening for other
common physical and mental health conditions. You may be
asked to take a drug test as part of the physical examination.
