People drink alcoholic beverages to celebrate special occasions with friends and loved ones. They drink to complement certain meals, to participate in religious ceremonies and enhance the enjoyment of social activities. In broader terms, people often drink to relax and reduce the stress of daily responsibilities. However, how do you deal with the issue of drug abuse and alcohol assessment Minneapolis MN?
Most people, who abuse alcohol may not drink all week, yet drink heavily on the weekends. This is referred to as binge drinking. Other abusers may require several drinks at a specific time of the day, such as immediately after work. Some abusers of liquor try to control the addiction by consuming steady, controlled doses throughout the day yet never overdrinking. Over time, tolerance to liquor increases, and the individual has no choice but to increase consumption to achieve intoxication or a blood alcohol level that makes them feel comfortable.
Most drug and alcohol tests begin with the counselor reviewing paperwork and documentation provided to him or her by you or your attorney regarding your particular circumstances. These documents might include your driving record, documentation from your physician or workplace, your criminal record, and your arrest report.
Once they've been reviewed, you will be required to answer simple questions about your personal and family history and history of substance use. These questions may be oral, written, or both. Your answers to these questions will help determine your course of treatment. Remember that it's important to be honest, especially when a judge mandates your testing. Your answers are not to incriminate you but to satisfy the requirements of the law and develop a treatment program specific to your needs.
Copy of police report: This is pretty self-explanatory. If you're doing liquor and drug assessment due to a DUI arrest, then the treatment agency needs to see why you were arrested. They will review the police report in its entirety. Make notes on physical observations made by the arresting officer. Determine whether there are any signs of substance abuse or dependence based on account of the incident.
Regardless of the level of consumption, all of these drinking patterns are signs of liquor abuse and perhaps even dependence. To determine if you or someone you know is abusing liquor, there are several standardized screening questionnaires to identify the severity of the problem. For instance, there is the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST) and the CAGE. Laboratory tests are often used to screen for alcohol dependence, and they are, by and large, liver function tests. The MCV, or Mean Corpuscular Volume, measures the size of red blood cells. For instance, when red blood cells are enlarged, the causes are chronic drinking.
The most sensitive liver enzyme test is the GGT, or Gamma Glutamyl Transferase, which detects alcoholic drinking at the earliest stage. In this test, liver enzyme levels seem to go up earlier, remain up longer, and come down slower than in other liver function tests. AST or Aspartate Aminotransferase (formerly SGOT) is also helpful as is the alkaline phosphatase test.
Drug and alcohol tests aren't an enjoyable prospect, but having a better idea of what to expect can help ease your fear going into the process. Being proactive about your examination and treatment will benefit you in the long run, especially in the eyes of the judge. For specific questions about your exact test procedure, what to expect from the written and oral test, your outcome, and your treatment plan, consult your attorney. He or she will be there to help you every step of the way.
Most people, who abuse alcohol may not drink all week, yet drink heavily on the weekends. This is referred to as binge drinking. Other abusers may require several drinks at a specific time of the day, such as immediately after work. Some abusers of liquor try to control the addiction by consuming steady, controlled doses throughout the day yet never overdrinking. Over time, tolerance to liquor increases, and the individual has no choice but to increase consumption to achieve intoxication or a blood alcohol level that makes them feel comfortable.
Most drug and alcohol tests begin with the counselor reviewing paperwork and documentation provided to him or her by you or your attorney regarding your particular circumstances. These documents might include your driving record, documentation from your physician or workplace, your criminal record, and your arrest report.
Once they've been reviewed, you will be required to answer simple questions about your personal and family history and history of substance use. These questions may be oral, written, or both. Your answers to these questions will help determine your course of treatment. Remember that it's important to be honest, especially when a judge mandates your testing. Your answers are not to incriminate you but to satisfy the requirements of the law and develop a treatment program specific to your needs.
Copy of police report: This is pretty self-explanatory. If you're doing liquor and drug assessment due to a DUI arrest, then the treatment agency needs to see why you were arrested. They will review the police report in its entirety. Make notes on physical observations made by the arresting officer. Determine whether there are any signs of substance abuse or dependence based on account of the incident.
Regardless of the level of consumption, all of these drinking patterns are signs of liquor abuse and perhaps even dependence. To determine if you or someone you know is abusing liquor, there are several standardized screening questionnaires to identify the severity of the problem. For instance, there is the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST) and the CAGE. Laboratory tests are often used to screen for alcohol dependence, and they are, by and large, liver function tests. The MCV, or Mean Corpuscular Volume, measures the size of red blood cells. For instance, when red blood cells are enlarged, the causes are chronic drinking.
The most sensitive liver enzyme test is the GGT, or Gamma Glutamyl Transferase, which detects alcoholic drinking at the earliest stage. In this test, liver enzyme levels seem to go up earlier, remain up longer, and come down slower than in other liver function tests. AST or Aspartate Aminotransferase (formerly SGOT) is also helpful as is the alkaline phosphatase test.
Drug and alcohol tests aren't an enjoyable prospect, but having a better idea of what to expect can help ease your fear going into the process. Being proactive about your examination and treatment will benefit you in the long run, especially in the eyes of the judge. For specific questions about your exact test procedure, what to expect from the written and oral test, your outcome, and your treatment plan, consult your attorney. He or she will be there to help you every step of the way.
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