Intervention Principles and Practice Guidelines for - Underage ...

After all data have been reviewed and analyzed, the substance abuse assessment professional
must arrive at opinions about the extent and consequences of the individual’s substance abuse
problem, possible contributing factors, strengths and supports available to the individual, and his or
her readiness for intervention (see Practice Guideline 6 for a discussion on readiness to change among
offenders). If alcohol use is significant, the substance abuse professional may diagnose alcohol abuse
or alcohol dependence (see page [enter page number here] in Section 1 for the criteria for each), both
of which would indicate the need for treatment. Alternatively, the substance abuse professional may
identify other significant alcohol problems that do not meet these diagnostic criteria but do require
intervention.
Case Study: Jill
Substance Abuse Assessment
Jill’s initial alcohol screening indicated she could benefit from further assessment; therefore, she
was referred to a substance abuse professional for a more comprehensive substance abuse assessment.
Appropriate release forms were signed by Jill and her mother allowing the community corrections
professional and the substance abuse professional to share information. Once completed, the community
corrections professional provided the substance abuse professional with a summary of the results she had
from interviews, the screening tool, and the risk and needs assessment instrument. The substance abuse
assessment professional administers a more comprehensive substance
abuse assessment on Jill and prepares a recommendation report using
findings from the assessment tool, collateral information from the community
corrections professional, and additional information gathered through his
interviews with Jill and her mother. That report is sent to the community
corrections professional.
The report indicates that Jill is at high-risk for an alcohol or substance
abuse problem. Factors such as the familial/genetic link to substance
abuse, Jill’s pattern of drinking (drinking in isolation), and the connection between ADHD (which Jill has)
and substance abuse all contribute to her high-risk status. Therefore, the substance abuse professional
recommends that Jill be referred to an outpatient substance abuse treatment program, and that she be
referred for family counseling with her mother.
What should the community corrections professional’s next step with Jill be?
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