(R. 12/03)

TIP SHEET FOR SUBSTANCE USE/ABUSE

Possible Substances

  • Alcohol;
  • Illegal Drugs (Street Drugs); and
  • Prescription Drugs (Depressants, Benzodiazepines, Barbiturates, Amphetamines and Opioids and Morphine Derivatives).

Tools To Help Assess

AOC Checks:

Look for drug and alcohol charges; and

Theft by Deception or multiple bad checks could be an indicator that money is being used to purchase drugs.

CPS Checks:

Look at case history to determine prior involvement with DCBS and past substance abuse. Consider past referrals that identified chemical use or abuse as a safety factor and determine if treatment was completed;

Interview children/spouse/paramour/significant others, collaterals (friends, grandparents, neighbors, relatives);

It is helpful to have collaterals write out statements when they are first interviewed explaining the substance abuse of a caretaker. Children can draw pictures to explain the caretaker’s behavior; and

If there is reason to suspect drug use, the worker may ask the client to participate in a drug screen and present the results to the worker.

Possible Indicators of Substance Abuse

  • Frequent Job Changes/Job Instability;
  • Doctor Shopping/Multiple Doctors;
  • Multiple pharmacies being used for medications;
  • Money and or food stamps are running out too quickly;
  • Selling household items for cash;
  • History of drug/alcohol abuse;
  • Children report caretaker sleeping excessively or being difficult to wake up; and
  • Family or friends are known to use/abuse drugs.

ASSESS EVERY REFERRAL FOR POSSIBLE SUBSTANCE ABUSE/USE AND CONTINUE TO ASSESS YOUR ON-GOING CASES FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE/USE

If a caretaker explains that they are no longer using drugs and they are in treatment, it would be important to verify their statement with their therapists. This would include AA meetings and sponsors as well as collaterals.

  • Get medical release of information signed for each contact.

If Substance Abuse is Found or Suspected an assessment from a Chemical Dependency Expert will help determine the type of treatment that is necessary (i.e., Inpatient or Outpatient treatment):

  • On-Going services may be needed at this time; and
  • Court action may also be appropriate and necessary.

If treatment is needed it would be important to consider the following:

  • Verify counseling appointments attended and the content of the counseling sessions (attend the first session with the patient in order to communicate the concerns with the therapists and avoid denial by the client;
  • Discuss with the client triggers that cause them to use/abuse drugs or situations that are difficult and the intervention plan in place to deal with those high stress times;
  • Verify AA meetings;
  • Discuss the relapse plan that the client formulated with the treatment specialists;
  • Request Random drug testing if possible;
  • Verify with the children that the caretaker is drug free;
  • Re-check AOC records to determine if there are new or current drug/alcohol charges;
  • Ask the client to explain how he/she is able to maintain being clean and sober; and
  • Re-interview children throughout the on-going case to determine if they continue to be safe.

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