When it comes to addiction, it often seems as though there are more questions than answers. In fact, you’ll likely encounter quite a few questions in the beginning of the process of checking into a drug rehab program. Or, you may be facing the need to take a drug and alcohol addiction assessment due to a court order to identify a potential need for treatment after you receive a DUI. If you are a private person or fear having your addiction found out, then having to answer such personal questions can sometimes feel invasive. Having a concern about whether you have to answer all of the questions they ask you during an assessment for drug rehab should have you wondering why you are afraid of giving out too much information. As a general rule, you don’t have to say anything that you don’t want, but there are some definite benefits to telling the truth.
Although a law enforcement officer might judge you for driving while intoxicated and a judge may pass down a sentence, you’ll find that addiction treatment counselors are only concerned with helping you. The questions that you’ll be asked during an assessment are research-based, and they’ve been used for many years to identify people who could benefit from addiction treatment. There is no shame to be found in answering any of these questions, and you retain the ability to control how much you share.
What Questions Will They Ask Me During an Addiction Assessment?
Many assessments will start with a few warm-up questions. This helps you to start feeling more comfortable talking to the person who is conducting the assessment, and they can use some of the answers to start gauging your interest in telling the truth. Here are a few of the most common questions you’ll encounter during an assessment.
- Do you use drugs or alcohol to get through your day?
- If so, what types of drugs do you use and how much?
- Has your drinking or drug use increased over time?
- Have you ever sustained an injury while drinking or using drugs?
- Have other people expressed concern about your behavior?
As you can see, each of these questions is meant to allow you to share information about your daily habits. They aren’t meant to make you feel ashamed or look guilty. The answers that you provide are simply used to assess your risk for having an addiction. If you are actively trying to enter a drug addiction treatment program, then the answers can help the intake counselors know if you are a good fit for benefiting from the services that they offer.
What Happens If I Refuse to Answer a Question?
So, you may find that one or two questions make you squirm in your seat. Or, you may just not be ready to talk about a health issue or past traumatic event just yet. It is typically perfectly fine to refuse to answer a question or two. You can also ask the person administering the assessment to come back to a question later after you have time to think about it. Keep in mind that you may be under slightly more pressure to answer the questions if it is a court-mandated assessment. In this case, you might be considered as being uncooperative if you refuse to answer enough questions to provide an accurate report. That type of situation could lead to you facing further consequences as a part of your sentencing for a drug or alcohol-related crime. In most cases, it works out in your favor to just answer the questions the best that you can. If it turns out that you need treatment, then at least you’ll know and have immediate support for getting sober.
Will My Answers Be Kept Confidential If I Do Open Up?
Your answers are completely confidential. If the assessment requires a report to be submitted to the court, your actual answers won’t be on it. Instead, it will simply state whether or not you’re being recommended for further treatment. If you are having an assessment done before you enter the treatment program, then your counselors will also ask you many similar questions as you get to know each other during your therapy sessions. As always, any information that you provide is protected by patient confidentiality laws that can help you feel more confident about sharing parts of your personal history.
Do you still need answers regarding which questions you might get asked during an assessment for drug rehab? We’ll help you sort it all out. Call us today at 844-903-2111.
