Do You Get Drug Tested at a Substance Abuse Evaluation?
Learn the Components of a DUI or Drug and Alcohol Evaluation
There are multiple situations that could lead to the need for a substance abuse evaluation. For example, if you are caught driving under the influence, an evaluation might be conducted to determine the extent of your problem with drugs and alcohol.
This way, the court can navigate your case accordingly, potentially ordering mandated rehab.
Alternatively, a substance abuse evaluation could refer to the assessment you get prior to drug and alcohol abuse treatment.
If you’re in either of these situations, you might wonder–do you get drug tested at a substance abuse evaluation? What happens next?
Icarus Behavioral Health Nevada is a trusted, accredited, addiction, dual-diagnosis, and mental health treatment center. Whether you simply want to know what to expect in a pre-treatment assessment or are facing a legal issue, we’re here to help.
Do You Get Drug Tested at a Substance Abuse Evaluation?
First, a drug test and substance abuse evaluation itself aren’t the same thing. A substance abuse evaluation can be ordered in assorted scenarios. For example, a substance abuse evaluation could be ordered by an employer, school, or the legal system.
In these settings, the purpose of the assessment is usually to help determine whether you could have a substance abuse problem.
In many cases, a substance abuse assessment ordered by an employer or the court will include drug testing. If you are undergoing a legal battle for a drug-related crime, you’ll almost certainly need a drug test.
Similarly, many people in child custody battles get a drug test if they have a personal history of substance abuse.
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What If I Fail a Court-Ordered Drug Test?
The consequences of a failed drug test can range based on things like what your charge was, your legal history, and whether you’ve failed a drug test before. Possible legal consequences of a court-ordered drug test include:
- Court-ordered drug rehab (mandatory addiction treatment).
- Lost child custody or changes in visitation rights.
- A harsher sentence.
- Revocation of bail.
If you are on probation, a failed drug test could lead to jail time, increased frequency of drug testing, or additional penalties, like community service or fines. Your compliance with the court can make a difference, often leading to fewer or less severe consequences.
The Benefit of Seeking Addiction Treatment
Seeking help for a drug or alcohol abuse problem can help you show the court that you’re serious about ceasing substance use. Icarus Behavioral Health Nevada has staff members who are versed in helping clients with pending legal issues.
You can fulfill a court-ordered drug rehab sentence at our center. That’s just one benefit of seeking treatment.
If you have a substance use disorder, treatment is vital. Getting professional help for addiction can help you avoid:
- Future legal problems (and get through current legal proceedings).
- New or worsened health problems resulting from addiction.
- Work-related consequences, like job loss.
- Increasingly severe interpersonal issues.
Our treatment providers are here to help you work through the effects addiction has had on your life and get to where you want to be.
Drug Testing for Addiction Treatment Centers
The legal system might require drug testing, but what about addiction treatment centers? Even though it is not always required, a drug test can be a part of the admissions process for substance abuse treatment.
A drug test at a rehab center is not meant to get you in trouble. Instead, it is used to establish a baseline for treatment approaches.
What Happens at a Pre-Treatment Substance Abuse Assessment?
During an intake evaluation for addiction treatment, you talk with an admissions specialist. Icarus Behavioral Health Nevada’s admissions team is not here to judge. Most of our staff members have a personal or family history of substance abuse, which increases the deep sense of understanding the Icarus Nevada team has with our clients.
The majority of the assessment will involve questions like:
- “What is your current substance use like?”
- “Have you been to treatment before?”
These questions help to determine things like whether or not you are at risk of serious withdrawal symptoms requiring medical detox services. It’s essential to be honest about your substance use history.
This process will also help the admissions team make recommendations for a starting level of care (e.g., inpatient vs. outpatient rehab).
Call Icarus Nevada for Comprehensive Substance Abuse Evaluations and Treatment
Icarus Nevada is a trusted behavioral health center in Las Vegas. It is important to us that we take the time and care necessary to develop a deep understanding of your experiences, treatment needs, and anything else that might affect your relationship with substance abuse and recovery.
We provide a full continuum of care and individualized treatment plans so that every person who walks through our doors gets the personalized care they need.
Please call Icarus Behavioral Health Nevada to start the intake process or for more information about addiction treatment at our center today. You are welcome to call our confidential admissions line for yourself or someone else in your life.
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FAQs About Drug Testing at a Substance Abuse Evaluation
What happens if you fail a drug test during a substance abuse evaluation?
It depends on the purpose of the evaluation. At a sober living home, failing a drug test (or getting a score higher than your baseline that indicates recent use of substances) could result in repercussions like loss of privileges.
Do you get drug tested during a drug and alcohol assessment?
Sometimes. At a treatment center, you might get a drug test so that staff members know what the test says at the time you enter treatment. This way, if you are tested in the future, treatment staff will be able to determine whether you have or have not used substances during treatment. This is also why sober living homes require drug testing.
What type of drug test is used at a substance abuse evaluation?
Since they are cost-effective and non-invasive, urine tests are a common mode of drug testing for employers, treatment centers, and sober living homes. Sometimes, especially in legal settings, there are times when a different drug test, like a blood or hair test, could be necessary.
What happens at a drug and alcohol test?
What happens at a drug test depends on the type of test you get.
- Hair test: Strands of your hair will be cut off at the hair follicle. This can include body or head hair.
- Urine test: You will urinate into a cup. Supervision may be required to ensure that you do not use synthetic urine or someone else’s urine to pass the test.
- Breathalyzer: You will breathe into a handheld device that reads your blood alcohol concentration.
- Blood test: You will get a standard blood draw.
Other tests, like saliva and sweat tests, can also be used.
How long does a substance abuse evaluation take?
It depends. Usually, an intake assessment for a treatment center will take about 60-90 minutes.
Do they drug test you at a psych evaluation?
It depends. Sometimes, a drug test might be ordered during a psych evaluation to:
- Determine the presence of co-occurring disorders, which may indicate the need for dual-diagnosis
- Diagnose substance-induced conditions or psychiatric symptoms.
- Aid treatment planning.
A drug test can also help you avoid medication interactions.
