Alcohol and Substance Abuse

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Alcohol and Substance Abuse

Revised April 3, 2009

Purpose: Provide a basic overview of alcohol/substance abuse system and guidelines to assist in determining if a client is in need of alcohol or substance abuse treatment.

GUIDELINES
The department recognizes that identification and treatment of alcohol and substance abuse issues are of paramount importance in assisting clients to attain self-sufficiency. The Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse (DASA) contracts with local treatment centers which provide alcohol and substance abuse evaluations and treatment.
Evaluation and treatment services are provided for clients receiving services under the following programs:

Alcohol Drug Abuse Treatment Services Act (ADATSA);

WorkFirst;

Medicaid assistance; and

State-funded assistance.

Under certain circumstances, other persons in low-income status may also receive evaluation and treatment services.

Alcohol and Chemical Dependency Defined

Alcohol dependency and chemical dependency are addictive diseases that include the following four symptoms:

Craving: A strong need or urge to use alcohol or other substances

Loss of Control: Not being able to stop drinking or using once the drinking or use has begun

Physical Dependence: Withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, shakiness, or anxiety

Tolerance: The need to drink or use greater amounts of alcohol or other substances to achieve the effects.

Alcohol and Substance Abuse

Alcohol or substance abuse can be just as harmful as an addiction or dependency. Some of the problems associate with alcohol and substance abuse include:

The inability to fulfill work, school, or family obligations;

Involvement in legal issues such as drunk driving arrests or violence;

Increased social and inter-personal problems, including family violence, child neglect and abuse;

Increased occurrence of accidents; and,

Health concerns, such as harm caused by the use of alcohol or substances during pregnancy, and increases in the risk of other medical disorders.

WORKER RESPONSIBILITIES
WorkFirst Clients

All WorkFirst applicants are screened using the Alcohol / Substance Abuse Screening Tool in e-JAS. If the alcohol / substance abuse screening indicates the likelihood of abuse use the e-JAS alcohol / substance abuse evaluation to determine if you should refer the client to the local Certified Chemical Dependency Counselor for a full assessment.

More information is in the WorkFirst Handbook - 6.7 Resolving Issues - Substance Abuse.

GAU Applicants

If the client is applying for GAU and suspected of alcohol or substance abuse, determine eligibility for GAU and how the substance abuse affects his or her eligibility for GAU. If the alcohol or substance abuse has no impact on the person’s eligibility for GAU and the person is otherwise eligible; the person will receive services under GAU. If treatment may increase the likelihood of employment, the client can be required to attend treatment as a condition of the GAU eligibility.

Use the procedures given in the ABCs of ADATSA for determining ADATSA eligibility.

Eligibility A-Z Manual: Protective Payees and Chemical Dependency - ADATSA

Other Helpful Information

http://www.dshs.wa.gov/dasa/default.shtml

www.samhsa.gov (Federal Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration)

www.niaaa.nih.gov (National Institution of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism)

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