Assessing people with alcohol problems
Areas to cover in assessment
Drinking level
It may only be possible to establish drinking levels in the most recent past so you need to clarify a) this is usual for them on a weekly basis, and b) how long the person has been drinking at that level.
Bearing in mind that the client may understate their drinking, to get a more in-depth picture try asking about when they first started drinking and how the pattern of drinking has changed over the years (when did it increase and what was going on at that time). Has the person had a crisis with alcohol use in the past? How many times? Did they seek help? Has there been period of being alcohol free or drinking non-problematically?
See Signs and symptoms and www.howsyourdrink.org.uk for a self-evaluation tool, using the Fast Alcohol Screening Test (FAST) and tips for safer drinking.
It is important to find out:
- If this person is likely to require detoxification as the first step
- If this is the first time, or first time in a long while, that they have experienced problems with alcohol or sought help
 |
 |
