Evaluation, Diagnosis, and Self-Assessment

Part of successful harm reduction treatment is that there are no barriers to services. Availability of services should be immediate. If there is a gap in time between the initial call and the evaluation or between the evaluation and the onset of treatment, the client may not return for help. The word alcoholic is not actually a clinical or diagnostic term. It’s a name that people have used since the mid-1800s to describe an alcohol drinker who is experiencing problems. The way that professionals make a clinical diagnosis is with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5). Insurance companies require a DSM diagnosis to provide reimbursement for behavioral health services. Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test is a self-assessment questionnaire about alcohol consumption that is commonly used to assess alcohol consumption, drinking behaviors, and alcohol-related consequences. With alcohol moderation, people can transition down from heavy use to safer use.