Substance Use Disorder Evaluations
When you are not sure how serious the problem is
Not all use is addiction. It might look like drinking more nights than planned and hiding how much, using pills or cannabis to get through the week, tension at home or work that keeps escalating, or a lawyer, physician, employer, or family member insisting something “official” needs to happen.
A substance use disorder evaluation (sometimes called a substance use assessment) is where guesswork stops. The goal is to answer three questions clearly:
- How serious is the substance use
- How is it affecting life, health, and safety
- What level of care makes sense
For clients with DUI or court-related requirements, Insight Into Action Therapy is recognized by the Commonwealth of Virginia as an approved ASAP evaluator and treatment provider.
Substance use on a spectrum
Insight knows that all use is not addiction, and that substance use occurs on a spectrum. Your treatment should match where you are on that spectrum, not where a template says you should be.
This is a core way our practice is different. We offer:
- Alcohol moderation work led by co founder Cyndi Turner, author, developer of the Alcohol Moderation Assessment, and national trainer, with co founder Craig James
- Harm reduction psychotherapy that meets you where you are, but does not leave you there
You do not have to stop using substances to work with us. You do not have to go to AA, NA, or 12 Step to work with us. Support comes in many forms. There are many paths to recovery. Your goal might be quitting, reducing harms, or trying alcohol moderation; the evaluation is where we determine what is realistic and safe for you.
Why people schedule a substance use disorder evaluation
People come to Insight for evaluations when:
- They are worried their use is escalating or no longer fully under control
- A partner or family member is pushing for clarity instead of another promise to cut back
- There are legal issues such as DUI, possession, or ASAP requirements
- An employer, professional board, or EAP is asking for documentation
- A physician or surgeon wants an assessment before prescribing or procedures
- They have tried AA or other groups and it was not a good fit, or they are not ready to quit but know something has to change
The evaluation is structured the same way regardless of who requested it. The recommendations are based on clinical reality, not on what anyone hopes the answer will be.
What a substance use disorder evaluation includes
A substance use disorder evaluation is a formal, clinical assessment of alcohol, drugs, and other addictive behaviors. A typical evaluation looks at:
Substances used
All alcohol and drug use across time, including frequency, amount, binge patterns, and attempts to cut back. This is also where we may use the Alcohol Moderation Assessment to understand whether alcohol moderation is a viable option.
Pattern and history
Age of first use, periods of heavier or lighter use, withdrawal symptoms, blackouts, overdoses, DUIs, or other incidents.
Functioning and consequences
Impact on work, school, relationships, parenting, finances, physical health, and legal status.
Mental health and co-occurring conditions
Symptoms of depression, anxiety, bipolar spectrum conditions, ADHD, OCD, trauma related problems, and other issues that interact with substance use.
Other compulsive behaviors
Gambling, pornography, sex, gaming, or other behaviors that follow similar escalation and secrecy patterns.
Support and environment
Family dynamics, living situation, peer group, access to substances, and current support.
The goal is to see the full system, not just count drinks or doses.
You Need Now!
Outcomes and next steps
Outcomes from a substance use disorder evaluation do not automatically involve intensive treatment; recommendations range from education and brief intervention for risky use without a diagnosable disorder to outpatient individual therapy (with or without family involvement), dual diagnosis treatment, alcohol moderation or harm reduction or a referral to intensive outpatient or higher levels of care when severity or risk requires it. These recommendations are based on severity, risk, support, and your stated goals, not a one size fits all template.
People come to Insight for evaluations because a loved one, court, ASAP, employer, or professional board is demanding answers and they want that handled by a team that understands the full spectrum of use. They expect a clear explanation, rational recommendations for level of care, and documentation that accurately reflects their situation, along with options for treatment. If substance use is affecting your life or someone has told you it is time for an evaluation, the next step is a structured assessment, not another argument about how “it’s not that bad,” so contact our office to schedule a substance use disorder evaluation and set a concrete plan for what happens next.