Evaluation Locations

What is a Chemical Health Evaluation in Vermillion MN?

A Chemical Health Evaluation in Vermillion (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 Vermillion, 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.

Importance of a "Private" Chemical Health Evaluation in Vermillion

It is important that you schedule a private Chemical Health Evaluation, call   612-249-3656, instead of going to your local Vermillion 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."

It is critical that you schedule a Chemical Health Assessment in Vermillion MN with a Private Evaluator that has advanced training because:

  1. Working with a Medical Specialist with advanced training helps to ensure you are not misdiagnosed, mislabeled, or wrongly assigned to long-term treatment.
  2. ”Private” Minnesota Chemical Health Evaluators work for you, not a 3rd party “rehab.” Therefore, Private Evaluators make sure you have a good experience, will listen to your wants and needs, and provide recommendations that utilize your feedback.
  3. Private Evaluators act as your personal advocate, not a treatment center, “rehab,” or governmental agency representative. Working with a private evaluator with advanced education ensures you do not get mislabeled and/or feel pressured.
  4. Your Chemical Health Evaluation can be kept away from your permeant medical record when working with a Private Evaluator.
  5. If you are seeking alcohol and drug counseling, Private Evaluators are more likely to refer you to the best available treatment state-wide; whereas, a treatment center evaluator is more likely to refer you into their narrow rehab program - even when it is not the best fit. For example, you may have the goal of learning how to moderate your drinking, but a treatment center evaluator will typically refer you into their “abstinence-based” program.

Who provides Private Chemical Health Evaluations in Vermillion MN?

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.

Selecting Michael to complete your Chemical Health Evaluation has many benefits:

 Collaboration will occur. Michael cares about your wants and needs. He will complete the assessment with recommendations that interest you.
 Your goals take priority, not a treatment centers profit margin.
 Your assessment can be kept off your permanent medical record.
 There’s no risk of being mislabel an “addict,” “alcoholic,” having a chemical dependency issue, substance abuse problem, or substance use disorder.
 There’s no risk of excessive or inappropriate “rehab” or addiction treatment recommendations, which would be expensive and require time away from your family and/or job.
 If you’re seeking help to moderate or quit chemical use because of substance abuse or chemical dependency concerns, Michael can refer you to the most effective, professionally-ran clinics based upon your specific goals.
 Direct, after-hours access to Michael.
 You will secure a personal advocate who will go above and beyond for you. If desired, Michael will write a professional opinion to Ramsey, Hennepin, Anoka, or Dakota, or any other County Court judges. This is especially impactful for criminal charges – such as DWI or DUI - or family court-ordered assessments.

What is the purpose of a Chemical Health Evaluation in Vermillion?

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.”

Effects of a Vermillion Chemical Health Assessment

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 Vermillion. 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.

How is a Substance Use Disorder treated?

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.

Steps to complete a Chemical Health Evaluation

  1. Schedule your appointment by calling 612-249-3656.
  2. The day of your appointment, bring your photo identification and court documents (such as a letter from Minnesota Driving and Vehicle Services or a DUI or DWI citation).
  3. Meet with your Assessor for the Chemical Health Evaluation interview.
  4. Provide contact information for “collateral contacts,” which are the people that need to be involved in the assessment.
  5. After the assessment, a recommendation letter will be sent to you with your chemical dependency evaluation results.

Patient rights during a Chemical Health Evaluation in Vermillion

  • You have the right to respect – the same courtesy that you expect from any other medical professional.
  • You have the right to not to be pressured into treatment or “rehab.”
  • You have the right to agree to or decline any recommended treatment services. You are the ultimate authority of your own health care.
  • You have the right to a second opinion if you disagree with your Chemical Health Assessment.
  • You have the right to have your health information kept private and secure as regulated by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

Services

Evaluation Services:

  • Chemical health evaluation
  • Chemical health assessment
  • Court ordered evaluation
  • Court ordered assessment
  • Rule 25 assessment – Minnesota and court certified
  • Chemical dependency evaluation
  • Chemical dependency assessment
  • Second opinion assessment – Secondary evaluation when a person disagrees with a previous recommendation.
  • Alcohol evaluation
  • Alcohol assessment
  • Substance abuse evaluation – Assessing a patterned use of a drug in which the user consumes excessive amounts of a substance or with methods which are harmful to themselves or others.
  • Substance abuse assessment
  • Drug evaluation - Assessing the use of mind-altering substances
  • Drug assessment
  • DWI evaluation - Assessing driving while intoxicated charges
  • DWI assessment
  • DUI evaluation – Assessing driving under the influence charges.
  • DUI assessment

Educational Services:

  • DWI level 1 classes
  • DWI level 2 classes
  • One day dwi program
  • Driving with care
  • Level 1 alcohol classes
  • Level 2 alcohol classes
  • Online training

Evaluation FAQs

What is a Chemical Health Assessment Vermillion?

A Chemical Health Assessment in Vermillion 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.

What are some other names for a Chemical Health Assessment?

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.

How to pass a chemical dependency evaluation?

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.

Make sure to meet with a “private” evaluator who will listen to you and utilize your thoughts during the assessment. Call 612.249.3656 to speak to Michael, a court- and MN-certified private evaluator.
Evaluators screen for the following symptoms of substance abuse and chemical dependency, or what is now referred to as substance use disorders:
  1. Taking the substance in larger amounts or for longer than the you meant to
  2. Wanting to cut down or stop using the substance but not managing to
  3. Spending a lot of time getting, using, or recovering from use of the substance
  4. Cravings and urges to use the substance
  5. Not managing to do what you should at work, home or school, because of substance use
  6. Continuing to use, even when it causes problems in relationships
  7. Giving up important social, occupational or recreational activities because of substance use
  8. Using substances again and again, even when it puts the you in danger
  9. Continuing to use, even when the you know you have a physical or psychological problem that could have been caused or made worse by the substance
  10. Needing more of the substance to get the effect you want (tolerance)
  11. Development of withdrawal symptoms, which can be relieved by taking more of the substance.
Before an evaluator can diagnose a “substance use disorder” and recommend treatment services, they must count up the number of symptoms to determine severity.
  • Less than four symptoms, “mild.”
  • Four or five symptoms, “moderate.”
  • More than five symptoms, “severe.”
However according to research, not all evaluators base their decision to send a person to treatment on these criteria. This can be due to a lack of training. This can also be due to bias as treatment center evaluators may feel pressure to increase referrals into their services, and send people to expensive, intensive treatment. This may be profitable for the treatment center, but would lead to inappropriate, burdensome treatment.

To ensure you are listened to during your Vermillion MN evaluation and have a correct diagnosis, make sure to hire a private evaluator who works for you and understands that you know yourself and your situation better than anyone else. Call  (612) 249-3656 to speak to Michael, a medical professional who conducts chemical health assessments in private practice.

What is a substance abuse evaluation?

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.

What is a chemical dependency assessment?

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.

What is a rule 25?

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 Vermillion assessors must follow.

Walk in rule 25 assessment

Walk in rule 25 assessments are available, call  (612) 249-3656 for directions.

How long is a rule 25 good for?

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.

What is a chemical use assessment?

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.”

What is involved in a Chemical Health Assessment?

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.

Links and Resources

MN Statewide Locations for Chemical Health Evaluations

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.