Where to Get a Substance Abuse Assessment in New Jersey

If you are struggling with substance abuse, you are not alone. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 48.5 million people had a substance use disorder in 2023.[1]

The first step towards receiving drug and alcohol treatment is an in-depth assessment. The treatment team needs to gather information about your substance abuse to create an individualized treatment plan. Substance abuse evaluations allow them to figure out how severe your addiction is, whether you need mental health care, and what types of treatment are suited to your needs.

If you are looking for a substance abuse evaluation in New Jersey, you’ve come to the right place. While there are several ways to receive an addiction assessment, New Jersey Behavioral Health Center is here to help you. When you attend our substance abuse counseling services, we offer an evaluation at the start of your program.

During our evaluations, we ask questions about your physical and mental health as well as your history of substance abuse. In other words, we cover all of the bases to ensure you get exactly what you need out of our substance abuse counseling services.

In this article, you will learn:

• What is a substance abuse evaluation?
• Why is it important to receive a drug and alcohol evaluation in New Jersey?
• Where can you find substance use assessment in New Jersey?

Understanding Addiction Services: What is a Drug and Alcohol Evaluation?

If you want to receive substance abuse counseling, you need to complete an evaluation first. To explain, substance abuse evaluations are used to determine how severe your addiction is, whether you have a co-occurring mental health disorder, what types of treatment are right for you, and which drug counselor would be best at helping you recover.

During a substance abuse evaluation, you might be asked the following questions:

• What substances have you abused?
• How often do you use drugs and alcohol?
• What dose of “x” drug do you typically consume?
• Have you ever experienced withdrawal symptoms?
• How does your substance use disorder impact your daily life?
• Does your family have a history of addiction?
• Have you ever been diagnosed with a mental health condition?
• Do you experience mental health symptoms, and how do they impact your life?
• Do you use drugs to self-medicate the symptoms of a physical or mental health condition?
• Have you ever attended addiction treatment in the past?
• What level of care have you received (i.e., inpatient programs, intensive outpatient programs, partial hospitalization programs)?
• How many times have you experienced a relapse, if at all?
• How long did your relapse last?
• What are your goals for recovery?
• And more!

You must answer each question truthfully, as your answers will guide the assessment process and help the professionals determine what type of treatment program you need. A variety of professionals can complete addiction assessments, including licensed clinical social workers, primary care physicians, psychologists, psychiatrists, addiction counselors, and the clinical team at an addiction treatment center.

Why is a New Jersey Drug Evaluation Important?

If you believe you have a substance use disorder, you need to complete the evaluation process to receive a diagnosis. Having a diagnosis makes it easier to receive the treatment you need. Additionally, many insurance companies require a diagnosis before they will cover the cost of addiction care.

There are other reasons that drug and alcohol evaluations are important, including:

• Allowing the treatment team to determine the severity of your addiction
• Helping you determine if you have co-occurring mental health issues
• Ensuring the treatment team refers you to the correct level of care, whether that be inpatient or outpatient services
• Determining what specialty care services you need, like medication-assisted treatment (MAT) or trauma-informed care
• Matching you with an addiction counselor who suits your needs
• Determining how long you’ll require addiction treatment services before you achieve recovery
• And more!

Whether you have co-occurring mental disorders, require medication-assisted treatment, or would benefit from trauma-informed care, your in-depth assessment will help the treatment team determine your needs and goals for recovery.

Where Can You Get a Substance Abuse Assessment in New Jersey?

During a drug and alcohol evaluation, the administrator will use the Addiction Severity Index provided by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders to determine how severe your addiction is. This will help them during personalized treatment planning, as it allows them to determine what level of care they need to provide you with. Your treatment plan could include treatment options like medical detox, individual therapy, group counseling, relapse prevention planning, and aftercare support.

If you are looking for a drug and alcohol evaluation in New Jersey, there are a few places you can receive one, including:

• At your primary care physician’s office
• At a therapy or psychologist appointment
• During a psychiatrist visit
• While seeing a social worker
• At a drug addiction treatment program

If you are looking for a New Jersey drug and alcohol evaluation, you’ve come to the right place. At New Jersey Behavioral Health Center, we offer initial and further evaluation for people struggling with addiction. Once we have evaluated you, we can connect you to comprehensive treatment and long-term support services, ensuring you receive the care you need to recover.

Our comprehensive evaluation services are offered to every patient who comes through our doors. Once you’ve completed the assessment, we will provide you with inpatient or outpatient services that help you overcome your substance use disorder. We offer early intervention, family counseling, and professional care at an appropriate level for your needs.

Get Connected to an Assessment and Substance Abuse Counseling in New Jersey

Everyone who suffers from a substance use disorder has unique needs. To identify your needs, New Jersey Behavioral Health Center offers an in-depth evaluation to both adolescents and adults. Our evaluation services help us create an individualized treatment plan that will ensure you achieve long-term recovery.

If you are looking for an assessment in New Jersey or Jersey City, we are the right program for you. Whether your addiction is causing daily responsibilities to become unmanageable or you are dealing with personal situations like trauma, we can assess your needs to create a treatment plan that works for you.

Contact us today to learn more about our professional alcohol and drug assessments in New Jersey. We can help you overcome drug use with the appropriate level of evidence-based and clinically proven addiction treatment care. Our evaluation process will help you obtain the necessary treatment you need to achieve successful recovery.

References:

1. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): Highlights for the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health