What to Expect When Speaking to a Clinician about addiction for the first time

Don’t know what to expect when speaking to a clinician about addiction for the first time? That is perfectly understandable but there really isn’t nothing to worry about. The conversation is in the strictest of confidence. The only time that a clinician can ever breach confidentiality is if they have immediate concerns. These would have to be that you are at absolute imminent risk of significant self harm. There is another instance, which has never come up, and that is if they believe you to be a terrorist!

The goal of a consultation is very simple: To find out how they can help you and what you want to achieve in treatment. When considering what to ask clinicians about addiction, focus on what’s most important for your recovery.

An addictions clinician usually has a background in psychiatry (which is where addictions is a sub specialty) and/or general practice and is there solely to help: Not to judge. It is no different to speaking to any other specialist such as a dermatologist, rheumatologist or obstetrician. The aim of a consultation, even an initial conversation, is solely to find out what the problem is and draw up a treatment plan. Think about what questions you want to ask clinicians about addiction care to gain the best insights.

As with any field of healthcare, an addictions clinician will have treated hundreds of people before you. This means that, while every persons problems are unique to them, there are common themes of which they will be aware of. Ordinarily, what you discuss is not something they are unfamiliar with. At the very least they will be empathetic and offer solutions. If you’re unsure what to ask clinicians about your addiction, remember they have seen many cases.

Not everyone who speaks to a clinician will need medication or admission. Some clients can recover with a therapy programme alone. Again, there is the question of whether to have treatment at home or in a residential rehab centre.

The clinician will put you at ease with some general introductions and then ask you something along the lines of how they can help you or what brought you to seeking help. This can be an emotional time as it may have taken years for someone to build up the courage to seek help. Again, this is something clinicians are very experienced at dealing with. When you think about what questions to ask addiction clinicians, consider topics that help them understand your needs better.

The questions you will be asked will be aimed at establishing what it is you are taking, how often you take it, how you take it and for how long you have been taking it. This is vital information that, not only informs the clinician about your current situation but, where a detox/medication is needed, this helps to inform prescribing decisions. Being prepared with what to ask addiction clinicians can help clarify treatment options.

As the conversation continues, the clinician would want to know your previous medical history (including your current medication), any psychiatric history as well as any involvement with the police. Again, this is not to judge but simply to give a background. Your family history, in so much as current relationships, siblings and parents all help to give an overall picture of what is going on. Brief questions on your employment and study history will also form part of the assessment. When considering what to ask addiction clinicians, include questions that offer a comprehensive view of your situation.

Some questions around your current mental health will also be an important part of the assessment. This is to assist the formation of a treatment plan and to decide whether it is appropriate to be treated at home, if clinically viable. Bringing thoughtful questions to ask addiction clinicians can yield valuable information on your treatment plans. Some clients want to get treatment overseas and our clinicians can advise you on this, also.

Some clients do not want their GP to know that they are seeking help. While any clinician will always advise against this, we understand why this happens. A GP summary is sometimes needed but your surgery does not need to know why one is requested. With modern GP computer systems, a receptionist can print one off in seconds. It is not uncommon for people to ask for one for multiple reasons including health insurance. It’s useful to consider what questions to ask clinicians when dealing with addiction, especially concerning confidentiality.

There is absolutely nothing to worry about when speaking to an addictions clinician. They are there to help, to gauge an understanding of what is going on in your life that has led you to seek help, to establish your current pattern of use and what you want to achieve from treatment. finalise what questions to ask addiction clinicians to make sure your concerns and goals are addressed during the consultation.

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