A Chemical Health Evaluation in Brooklyn Park (schedule: 612-249-3656) is a comprehensive assessment used determine if a person has a problem with alcohol, drugs, or chemical dependency. Following the completion of the assessment in Brooklyn Park, the person is provided with results. Following the evaluation, the results are given through a "Recommendation Letter." Recommendations vary from person-to-person and can be simple suggestions such as "speak to your doctor about quitting smoking" to "attend treatment" for alcohol- or drug-related problems. Chemical Health Evaluations are also referred to as Rule 25 Assessments, Chemical Dependency Evaluations, Court Ordered Assessments, CD Evaluations, Alcohol Assessments, DWI Evaluations, DUI Assessments, and Comprehensive Chemical Use Assessments.
It is important that you schedule a private Chemical Health Evaluation, call 612-249-3656, instead of going to your local Brooklyn Park Alcohol and Drug Treatment Center, or “rehab” facility. This is because according to a team of respected addiction researchers from the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, treatment center evaluators often lack the advanced education to provide quality evaluations and misdiagnosis a person as an “alcoholic” or “drug addict.” A third problem is that treatment center evaluators possess a strong bias for recommending intensive treatment at their facilities because they often act as “recruiters” for their intense programs. A common complaint by people who complete their assessment at a treatment center is that they "feel pressured into treatment."
Michael, 612-249-3656, is a medical professional working in private practice through Avitity Health.
Michael received his addiction medicine training and psychology degree from Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He authored, A Frenzied Mind: Clarifying the science behind addictive disorders. He is an experienced court-certified Chemical Health Evaluator and will serve as your personal advocate.
Chemical Health Evaluations are meant to determine if a person has a substance abuse problem or chemical dependency issue. As of 2013, these medical problems are now called “Substance Use Disorders.” For example, if a person has a serious alcohol misuse problem, a medical professional would refer to that illness as “Alcohol Use Disorder.”
If a person has alcohol- or drug-related criminal charges, such as a DWI or DUI, a Chemical Health Evaluation will be court ordered in Brooklyn Park. The "Recommendation Letter" is used by judges and probation officers - impacting court outcomes and probation supervisionrequirements. For example, if the Chemical Health Assessment recommendation is: “abstain from the use of alcohol, attend treatment, and submit to drug testing,” then you will be expected to do these things while on probation. Additionally, the same is true for "family court" ordered Chemical Health Evaluations. Lastly, Chemical Dependency Evaluations ordered by the Department of Vehicle Service (DVS / DMV) or the Ignition Interlock program will expect a person to: a) complete the evaluation, and b) follow all recommendations.
The good news is that there are more “evidenced-based” treatments available than any time in history. The bad news is that, according to research, it is unlikely you will receive the best treatments. This is because “rehabs” and treatment centers are staffed with counselors who lack advanced education and training on the most modern, effective therapies. This is also because many treatment centers fail to provide access to evidenced-based medications and instead rely solely upon “talk therapies.” Furthermore, most Alcohol and Drug Counselors lack “treatment fidelity,” which is adhering to the actual talk therapy treatment manual. Instead, they modify the therapy to their liking, which makes the evidenced-based therapy less effective. Lastly, a worrying trend is group size. Instead of individual or small group therapy, treatment centers or “rehabs” typically have group therapy sessions with 10-20 - and sometimes more - clients in the room. While this is profitable, it is not effective treatment and makes individualized care nearly impossible.
Call Michael, 612-249-3656, a Harvard-trained addiction specialist who can help you get the best counseling and medications available. He possesses a deep understanding of the available treatment options in your area. If you are seeking help in quitting or moderating your alcohol/drug use, he will provide referrals into the best programs based upon your goals.
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A Chemical Health Assessment in Brooklyn Park MN (schedule: 612-249-3656) is a short, one-time interview between a person who may have an alcohol or drug problem and a medical professional. During this interview, the medical professional determines if a person has a diagnosable “substance use disorder,” which is a medical condition that is also known as alcoholism, chemical dependency, or drug addiction.
Chemical Health Assessments have many different names, all meaning the same thing. Some of the other common names are Chemical Dependency Evaluation, CD Evaluation, Alcohol Assessment, Chemical Health Evaluation, and Rule 25 Assessment. Essentially, all of these are the same thing as they utilize the same 16-page “Rule 25” interview form that asks questions on physical, mental, social, financial, psychological, and chemical health.
The fear of being mislabeled or misdiagnosed as an alcoholic or drug addict is a valid concern. This can lead to costly treatment or “rehab” that takes a person out of society for many weeks.
Substance abuse evaluations screen for overindulgence in or dependence on an addictive substance, especially alcohol or drugs. The evaluation is specifically meant to determine if a person is experiencing the substance use disorder symptoms described above. If a person is experiencing several symptoms, the evaluator will help that person receive placement into treatment, if the patient is willing and/or interested.
A chemical dependency assessment is a comprehensive evaluation of your chemical use by a trained clinician. The assessment ends with a recommendation letter from the clinician to you. Recommendations vary wildly between person to person depending on each person’s unique situation.
A Rule 25 is a 16-page standardized evaluation form used by medical professionals during assessments. A completed Rule 25 form is needed for a person to enter residential and non-residential treatment programs in the state Minnesota. Rule 25 also refers to a set of state rules Brooklyn Park assessors must follow.
Walk in rule 25 assessments are available, call (612) 249-3656 for directions.
Rule 25 assessments expire after only 45 days. If the 45 days has passed, then a person needs to do an “updated assessment” prior to starting treatment services.
A chemical use assessment is typically identical to a “chemical dependency assessment.” However, the term “chemical dependency” is being used less and less in the medical community and the phrase is being replaced by the term “substance use disorder.”
Chemical Health Assessments require a face-to-face interview between you and a qualified medical professional. During the interview, the professional will ask about the symptoms listed above. They will also learn about your mental health, physical health, current living environment, and the life you live. The professional will want to know the extent of problems your alcohol and/or drug use.
Michael provides private, court- and MN-certified Chemical Health Assessments to individuals in St Paul, Minneapolis and the surrounding metro. He can be reached directly at 612.249.3656.