Assessment and intake are not the same
An addiction treatment assessment helps a clinician choose a safe level of care. ASAM: intake assessment guide.
Intake is the start of your relationship with a program. It records what the program needs to admit and support you.
| Step | Main question | When it happens |
|---|---|---|
| Assessment | What level of care fits now? | Before treatment or before admission |
| Intake | What does this program need to know to start care? | As you enter the program |
| Treatment planning | What goals and services belong in the plan? | After treatment begins |
The names can overlap. Ask the program which step you are doing today.
What a level-of-care assessment does
A level-of-care assessment gathers enough information to guide placement. ASAM: assessment guides.
It should not be a sales call. It should help you understand the next safe step.
You can ask what information is required, who reviews it, and when you will hear the recommendation.
The six areas an assessment may cover
ASAM lists six dimensions for a comprehensive addiction treatment assessment. ASAM: six assessment dimensions.
| Area | Plain-English question |
|---|---|
| Withdrawal or intoxication | Could stopping or current use create an urgent safety concern? |
| Physical health | What medical conditions or symptoms need attention? |
| Emotional and mental health | What emotional, behavioral, or thinking concerns are present? |
| Readiness | What kind of help feels possible right now? |
| Continued use risk | What could make continued use or return to use more likely? |
| Recovery environment | Is home supportive and safe for the next step? |
You do not need perfect answers. Honest answers help the assessor understand your situation.
What questions you may hear
- What do you use, and when did you last use it?
- Have you had withdrawal before?
- What health conditions or medicines should we know about?
- How have sleep, mood, and stress been lately?
- What happened during past treatment?
- Where will you stay after this visit?
- Who can support you today?
These questions are not a test. They help the team plan the next conversation.
What intake usually adds
Intake turns a decision into a starting record for one program.
A program may ask for contact details, health history, medicines, consent, payment details, and emergency contacts.
Ask which details are required now and which can wait. You can ask how the program protects your information.
Read every consent form. Ask what you are agreeing to before you sign.
What to bring or have ready
- A list of current medicines and doses
- Names of doctors or clinics involved in your care
- Insurance information, if you plan to use it
- A short list of past treatment and what you want to change
- Questions about housing, transportation, work, or family needs
- A trusted person who can help you remember the plan
If you do not have every item, still ask for help. Do not delay a safety question because paperwork is missing.
What to ask before you agree to care
- Who will complete the assessment?
- What level of care are you recommending, and why?
- What happens if I need medical help first?
- What happens during the first day?
- What medicines and services does this program support?
- What does insurance cover, and what might I owe?
- What is the next step if this program is not a fit?
Write down the answers. A clear plan should name the next step and who will call you.
How treatment planning differs
A treatment-planning assessment is fuller than a first placement screen. ASAM: assessment guides.
It happens after treatment begins and helps build an individual treatment plan. ASAM: treatment-planning assessment.
The plan can change when new information appears. Ask when the team will review it with you.
How many facilities are in our directory
The count below comes from our own directory. It is read from the database when this page loads.
This count is read from our directory when the page loads. The read did not come back this time, so the table is not shown. Nothing is substituted for it. Reload in a moment, or search the directory directly.
Source: the aSoberBed asb_facility_stats_public view, read when this page loads.
This is a directory count. It does not show whether a program fits your needs.
Compare the service, license, assessment process, and costs with the program directly.
When to get urgent help
If someone is in immediate danger or has a medical emergency, call 911 or go to an emergency room. SAMHSA: crisis support.
If you are in crisis, call or text 988 for free, confidential support at any time. 988 Lifeline.
For treatment referrals, call SAMHSA at 1-800-662-4357 or use FindTreatment.gov. SAMHSA crisis and treatment help.
How this site is paid for
Facilities pay a flat listing fee to be listed here.
The fee does not change what you see, or the order you see it in.
Nobody pays us for a referral, and nobody pays us when a person is admitted.
That is a legal line, not a preference. We do not sell placement in treatment.