Greenwood MN Assessment

What is a Rule 25 Assessment in Greenwood?

A Rule 25 (schedule: 612.249.3656) is a one-time appointment. During this appointment, you will meet with a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor in Greenwood Minnesota. The counselor gets to know you better and your situation through a structured interview. Following your appointment, a “Recommendation” is provided to you. If you have court involvement, the Recommendation Letter can be sent to your lawyer, case judge, prosecutor, and/or community corrections.

Your Assessment Recommendation has a lasting impact so make sure to chose a competent, well-trained Assessor who will listen to your wants and needs. If you want treatment, then expert Assessors will get you the best treatment available. Unfortunately, assessors at local treatment Parks can be biased and typically try to refer you into their treatment program, which is highly unlikely to be the best available. It also may be excessive and disruptive to your life.

Additionally, judges and probation officers expect you to follow Assessment Recommendations. When the Recommendations are poorly written and do not reflect your wants and needs, there can be a lasting, costly negative effect. For example, if you are misdiagnosed then you may be recommended to abstain from alcohol use and submit to drug testing while on probation. Drug testing is a costly expense that can occur for the duration of your probation.

Sometimes Assessors recommend intensive inpatient treatment where you are expected to reside at for several weeks. This requires time away from your family and job. Sometimes intensive inpatient treatment is necessary, but other times it is not. A skilled, competent Greenwood Chemical Health Assessor will collaborate with you to determine your wants and needs. If you believe treatment would be helpful, then the least intensive treatment would be recommended that is “evidenced-based,” which has strong scientific evidence that it will be helpful. Unfortunately, according to a critical report by addiction medicine experts at Columbia University in New York, many Minnesota treatment Parks do not utilize evidenced-based therapies and alcohol/drug treatment programs are often ineffective.

It is crucial that you select an expert Rule 25 Assessor working in private practice. Private assessors work for you, and not a for-profit treatment Park. This means you have a personal advocate where the risk of being “pressured” into an excessive, ineffective treatment program is minimized. A private Evaluator is also unaffiliated with treatment Parks and therefore can provide objective recommendations that you are comfortable with. If you want help, recommendations are created through collaboration with you and your specific wants and needs.

Who is a good Greenwood Rule 25 Assessor?

Michael 612.249.3656 is a licensed medical professional and experienced Rule 25 Assessor. He has received advanced training at Harvard University in addictive disorders. Michael is an expert in determining if a person really has a problem with alcohol or other drugs.

By meeting with Michael, you will:

  • be respected. Michael will show you the respect you would expect from any other medical professional.
  • have a personal advocate. Michael will advocate for you to lawyers, prosecutors, judges, and correctional officers.
  • be listened to. You know yourself better than anyone and Michael understands this.
  • be informed. Rule 25 Chemical Health assessments can be a confusing process and Michael will be transparent and clearly explain the process, step-by-step.

Where can I meet Michael?

You can visit Michael in his office. Michael also offers flexible, mobile appointments and can meet you in Greenwood. Or, in any of the following counties and cities:

Resources

A Frenzied Mind: Clarifying the science behind addictive disorders is a new book explaining alcohol and drug addiction. Much is clarified in this book, including: the scope of intoxication throughout the animal kingdom, the history of drug use and addiction within humans, why possessing drugs became a crime in the United States and the consequences thereafter, the evolving definitions and diagnosis criteria, along with the theories of what causes someone to become addicted. The significant developments over the last 75 years will be explained from the fields of psychology and neuroscience. Written in an easy to follow manner, this book requires no previous knowledge on addictive disorders and you the reader will be left with a superior understanding of this misunderstood brain disorder.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) offers a National Helpline, 1-800-662-HELP (4357), is a confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year, information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders. This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations. Callers can also order free publications and other information.

The American Board of Addiction Medicine offers a locating service online to find a local Addiction Medicine Doctor. Click here to search for a specialist in your area.