ASAM Dimension

Assessment
Clinical Steps
To ensuring the needs
Of your clients are
Identified

Session Objectives
�� Learn what the best strategies are to determine
which potential drug court clients are most suitable
for your program.
�� Learn the best strategies for how to identify the
needs of your drug court participants.
�� Understand how to develop and assessment
protocols for your drug court.

Assessment
• Is an objective, strengths-based strengths based bio-
psycho-social psycho social clinical evaluation that
clarifies the nature and extent of an
alcohol/drug use/abuse/addiction
disorder.
• The outcome of an effective assessment
is a diagnoses and referral to the most
appropriate level of care of treatment
services.

Goals of Assessment
• Examine the scope and nature of the subject’s
substance abuse problem.
• Understand the impact substance abuse has had
on the individual.
• Define major areas of strengths and deficits.
• Identify problems in all other life domains to be
addressed in treatment.
• Identify the full range of service needs, pursuant
to treatment planning.
• Match participants to appropriate LEVELS and
TYPES of substance abuse services.
US Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Drug Courts Courts
Program Office; Guideline for

Assessment
What tools are you required to
use for assessment?
*State State Licensing Requirements
*National National Accreditation
�� Note: Do they assist in developing a DSM-IV DSM IV diagnosis? Are they
tied to a criteria for the appropriate level of care placement
(ASAM)?

Valid and Reliable Clinical
Assessment Tools
�� Global Assessment of Individual Needs
(GAIN)
�� Addiction Severity Index (ASI)
�� Standard Bio-Psycho Bio Psycho-Social Social (often
internally developed by agency)

Addiction Severity Index
(ASI)
�� Perhaps the best known, most used AOD
assessment tool
�� Six subscales – medical, AOD, employment,
legal, family, psychiatric
�� Rating of severity in each subscale
�� Standardized, training manuals and training
available

Evidence-Based
Evidence Based
Assessment Tools
Include Several Domains
Which Can Be Correlated With
ASAM Criteria for
Making Placement Decisions

ASAM PPC-2R PPC 2R Dimensions
Dimension 1- 1 Acute Intoxication and/or
Withdrawal Potential
Dimension 2- 2 Biomedical Conditions and
Complications
Dimension 3- 3 Emotional, Behavioral, and
Emotional Conditions & Complications
Dimension 4- 4 Readiness to Change
Dimension 5- 5 Relapse, Continued Use, or
Continued Problem Potential
Dimension 6- 6 Recovery/Living Environment

Alcohol/Drug Use Use
�� Needs and Strengths are Measured
Correlates to:
�� ASAM Dimension 1- 1 Acute Intoxication
and/or Withdrawal Potential
�� ASAM Dimension 5- 5 Relapse,
Continued Use or Continued Problem
Potential

Criminal Criminal Involvement
�� Needs and Strengths are Measured
Correlates to:
�� ASAM Dimension 3- 3 Emotional,
Behavioral, & Cognitive Conditions &
Complications
�� ASAM Dimension 6 - Recovery
Environment

Medical Medical Status Status
�� Needs and Strengths are Measured
Correlates to:
�� ASAM Dimension 2: Biomedical
Conditions and Complications

Psychiatric Status Status
�� Needs and Strengths are Measured
Correlates to:
�� ASAM Dimension 3- 3 Emotional,
Behavioral, & Cognitive Conditions &
Complications

Employment and and Financial
Status Status
�� Needs and Strengths are Measured
Correlates to:
�� ASAM Dimension 6 - Recovery
Environment

Family Family and and Social Social Status Status
�� Needs and Strengths are Measured
Correlates to:
�� ASAM Dimension 6 - Recovery
Environment

Alcohol/Drug Triggers Triggers
and and Cognitions
�� Needs and Strengths are Measured
Correlates to:
�� ASAM Dimension 5- 5 Relapse,
Continued Use or Continued Problem
Potential

Self--Efficacy Self Efficacy and and Motivation
for for Change Change
�� Needs and Strengths are Measured
Correlates to:
�� ASAM Dimension 4- 4 Readiness to
Change

Assessment Leads Leads to to
Placement
�� Assessments of addiction severity
�� Assessment of problems and strengths
�� Comparison to ASAM Placement Criteria
SHOULD CULMINATE IN A PLACEMENT
THAT IS LEAST INTENSIVE/RESTRICTIVE
FIRST AND THEN INTENSIFIED AS
CLINICALLY INDICATED

Resources
Allen JP & Wilson VB (Eds.) (2003). Assessing alcohol
problems: A guide for clinicians and researchers (2nd ed.)
[No. 03-3745]. 03 3745]. Bethesda, MD: NIAAA.
Inciardi JA (Ed.) (1994). Screening and assessment for
alcohol and other drug abuse among adults in the criminal
justice system [TIP No. 7]. 7] . Rockville, MD: CSAT.
Rounsaville BJ, Tims FM, Horton, AM & Sowder BJ
(Eds.) (1993). Diagnostic source book on drug abuse
research and treatment [No. 93-3508]. 93 3508]. Rockville, MD:
NIDA.
American Society of Addiction Medicine. Patient Placement
Criteria for Treatment of Psychoactive Substance Use
Disorders, 2 nd ed. Washington, DC: American Society of
Addiction Medicine, 1996