Analysis: The Subtle Screening Inventory

Addicts live in a world full of self-hatred and shame, and a multitude of these individuals do not want anyone to know the truth about their pain. Our textbook states that “ninety-five percent of untreated alcoholics die of alcoholism an average of 26 years early even if their death certificate might read they died of heart disease, cancer, or something else to protect the family, but the real reason they died is due to addiction” (Perkinson, 2012, p. 2). An individual’s repeated drug use causes long-lasting changes in their brain which causes long-lasting changes in their brain which causes the addict to lose voluntary control. The individual’s addiction is their only way of feeling normal which makes them feel hopeless, powerless, helpless,
This involves using assessment instruments to document: diagnosis, severity or addiction, and motivation and rehabilitation potential (Perkinson, 2012, p. 12) to see if third-party payers will pay for the client’s treatment. The Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory (SASSI) screens client who may be defensive or in denial and measure “defensiveness and the subtle attribute that are common in chemically dependent persons” (Perkinson, 2012, p. 12). The Addiction Severity Index (ASI) and the Ten-Addiction Severity Index (T-ASI) are also widely used, and structured interviews for adults and teen are designed to provide important information about the severity of the client’s substance abuse problem that includes: “legal status, family history, family/social relationships, and psychiatric status” (Perkinson, 2012, p. 13). It is imperative that the professional discuss the ASAM client placement criteria to negotiate the best treatment plan possible to bring the addiction under
One example of an individual of the multidisciplinary team would be a chemical dependency counselor who meets state certification standards set by a certification board. The chemical dependency counselor takes an array of specialized college courses and work for at one year in a treatment setting under a qualified supervisor. Counselors must show competency in 12 core function areas that include: screening, intake, orientation, assessment, treatment planning, counseling, case management, crisis intervention, client education, referral, reports and record keeping, and consultation (Perkinson, 2012, p. 226). An array of chemical dependency counselors are often involved in their own recovery programs that can help relate and identify with their