The treatment of addictions typically begins by gathering a comprehensive history of a client's substance use. We've created a tool—the Substance Use Assessment—to help speed up this process, and ensure that you're asking some of the most important questions related to addiction.

This tool was designed to be completed by your clients prior to a complete psychosocial assessment. If completed correctly, your client's responses can be used as a roadmap for further questioning, and a valuable piece of documentation for their file.

The first page of the assessment asks clients to share a basic overview of their history with various drugs. Page two begins probing into DSM-5 symptoms of substance abuse with simple "yes" or "no" questions. This assessment is not a diagnostic tool, and should only be used as an aid alongside a complete psychosocial.