I hope this helps you to remember the components of a drug and alcohol assessment!

1. Drug/ Alcohol Assessment
A Guide for Clinicians

2. Reason for Use?
• Coping Mechanism.
• Socializing /Pleasure.

3. Trigger for Use?
• Physical or emotional pain.
• Events e.g. loss of job, death of loved one.
• Abuse.

4. Drug of Choice?
• Need to know as different drugs have different
effects.
• This therefore means you need to implement
a different treatment protocol.
• Need to know what NOT to give the pt.
• Certain drugs increase risk of violent and
aggressive behaviour (that you need to be
aware of).

5. Route of Administration?
• IV, transdermally, snorted, eaten, smoked.
• Need to be safe when administering.

6. When did they last use the drug?
• Are the currently intoxicated?
• This will change treatment protocol.
• Are they withdrawing?
• This may increase high risk behaviour e.g.
violence, aggression, psychosis, suicidal
thoughts.

7. How much did they use?
• Dependence (individual can’t function without
the substance).
• Tolerance?

8. Period of Abstinence?
• What stopped them from using e.g.
cost, availability, someone stopped them.
• What started them using again? E.g.
payday, someone prompted them to.
• What did they do when they weren’t using?

9. Any Risky Behaviour Whilst Using?
• Drink driving, violence, aggression, self-
harm, suicidal ideation, promiscuity.

10. • Need to ask them reasons for use vs reasons
to cut down.
• This allows you to create a decisional balance
with the pt.

11. Thank You
Good luck , I hope this assists your studies 
Sincerely,
An Aussie Paramedic Student