Save a Life with an Alcohol or Drug Assessment
Drug and alcohol abuse can have lasting effects, including death. From opioid overdose alone, an average of 130 Americans die every day. If you are concerned about drug or alcohol use, for yourself or a loved one, a drug and alcohol assessment is the best way to determine a need for help. Once we determine that drugs or alcohol are a problem, Stepping Stones in Lincoln, Nebraska can provide you with a treatment plan to get you or your loved ones back to a healthy lifestyle. When coming in for a drug and alcohol assessment, remember it is only a recommendation. You are not required to take any action until you are ready, though we encourage you to take any necessary steps to get the help you need.
Why Seek a Drug or Alcohol Assessment
Drug and alcohol addiction commonly destroys marriages, friendships, and careers and can result in injury or death. According to the Addiction Center:
Americans most likely to use addictive drugs are between the ages of 18 and 25.
Nearly 21 million Americans have at least one addiction, yet only 10% of them receive treatment.
More than 700,000 Americans died from drug overdose between 1999 to 2017.
Alcohol and drug addiction cost the U.S. economy over $600 billion every year.
Of Americans who have depression or an anxiety disorder, nearly 20% also have a drug or alcohol use disorder.
During the Assessment
Stepping Stones in Lincoln offers drug and alcohol assessments for youth and adults. During the drug and alcohol assessment, a counselor will evaluate frequency and amount of drug and alcohol use. Then they will determine if drugs and alcohol are a concern. Next, the counselor will make recommendations or, if necessary, referrals for treatment. A drug and alcohol assessment should include a history of drug and alcohol use as well as a family history. The drug and alcohol assessment uses the family history to help with asking the right questions and understanding possible underlying causes for substance abuse. We offer drug and alcohol assessments Monday through Friday by appointment only. Pregnant or parenting women and/or IV drug users are given priority in scheduling. Stepping Stones also offers drug and alcohol assessments to individuals in jail. An assessment does not require action. It is only a recommendation.
Other Options for Drug and Alcohol Assessment
Sometimes coming in for a drug or alcohol assessment can be scary, or maybe the person needing the assessment does not want to come in for help. There are options for people who do not want to come in for a drug and alcohol assessment. Sometimes patients are given the opportunity for a drug and alcohol assessment when they are hospitalized or visiting a provider for another medical reason. Patients visiting Lincoln Family Medicine Center may be offered a “warm handoff” to one of our caring, compassionate counselors if there are concerns of drug and alcohol abuse.
Youth Drug and Alcohol Assessment
We understand the importance of early intervention and can perform alcohol and drug assessments for adolescents, ages 13-18. Much like an adult assessment, this drug and alcohol assessment will establish whether alcohol or other drugs are a problem. If so, we will provide recommendations and referrals for treatment. We also provide outpatient counseling services by appointment and will work with parents to accommodate scheduling needs.
Our Counselors
For individuals and families struggling with substance use, Stepping Stones in Lincoln offers counseling in a safe and welcoming environment. We understand that substance abuse is difficult to overcome and it can impact an individual’s life, as well as members of their family. We also offer co-occurring mental health counseling and many other services on our website steppingstoneslincoln.com.
Shannon Miller, LADC, PLMHP, is a Provisionally Licensed Mental Health Practitioner and Licensed Alcohol Drug Counselor. With 12 years of counseling, she specializes in substance abuse and addiction, and mental health issues, including chronic pain, depression, trauma, and co-occurring mental health issues.
Jamie Corder, PLADC, is a Provisionally Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselorhas over six years providing advocacy and support to individuals and families experiencing homelessness, domestic violence, and addiction.
Our licensed professional counselors will work with you, or with you and your family, to develop a person-centered treatment plan specific to your needs that incorporates healthy coping and problem-solving, if needed after a drug and alcohol assessment. Counseling is offered by appointment. To schedule a drug and alcohol assessment with Stepping Stones in Lincoln, Nebraska, please call 402-488-6511.
Sources (These should be influential, well-known sites):
https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/atod
https://www.addictioncenter.com/addiction/addiction-statistics/