Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) Program

The substance abuse program at Mid Ohio Psychological Services, Inc. (MOPS) is designed to aid clients who are diagnosed with substance abuse or dependence creates and implements a program of recovery that can be applied to living in the community. Alcohol and other drug treatment services at Mid-Ohio Psychological Services, Inc. include outpatient assessment, individual/group counseling and medication/somatic services designed to help individuals and families gain management over chemical usage and to decrease the impact of chemical abuse. These services are provided in a face-to-face fashion by a clinician who is qualified to provide substance abuse/dependency services. Mid-Ohio Psychological Services, Inc. provides low intensity outpatient AOD treatment services, utilizing a “best practices” model that is sensitive to cognitive difference and varying levels of willingness to change.

Program Admission Criteria
In order for clients to be deemed appropriate for this program, specific information is gathered during the assessment procedure, and this information is utilized to make a substance-related diagnosis (abuse or dependence), which is necessary for admission into the program.

Specific client populations are not be deemed appropriate for treatment through this program. Because this program is created to serve the adult population, children and adolescents are not considered appropriate candidates at this time. In addition, clients with Mild, Moderate, or Severe Mental Retardation or some level of cognitive or developmental disorder more profound than Borderline Intellectual Functioning are not considered appropriate candidates due to the homework assignments within the program. Finally, clients diagnosed with thought disorders (Schizophrenia, etc.) and/or an acute psychotic disorder are not appropriate for this program.

Levels of Care

Each client will be placed at a specific level of care based upon data gathered during the assessment procedure. The motivation level for change in each client will be assessed and used as a basis for placement in the program. For example, if a client is unaware of a problem or need for change, he/she will be placed at Level One, which corresponds to the precontemplation stage of change. If a client is weighing the pros and cons of change, he/she will be placed at Level Two, which corresponds to the contemplation stage of change. Clients will be placed at an appropriate level based upon information gathered during the clinical interview as well as results from formalized testing. Each level of care contains specific expected client behaviors, and clients will need to evidence specific motivational-related behaviors to progress through the levels of treatment. The list of expected behaviors at each level are explained later in this review.

In addition to client motivation, the cognitive abilities of each client will determine the specific treatment interventions for that client. During the assessment procedure, clients will be tested for academic achievement levels. This information, along with the client presentation during the clinical interview, will help clinicians decide if cognitive deficits will be a factor in treatment. For clients with lower cognitive functioning (such as clients diagnosed with Borderline Intellectual Functioning), concrete behavioral interventions with more external motivations (such as wanting to avoid further legal system involvement) will be utilized. Conversely, clients with higher cognitive functioning will have goals related to creating discrepancies between behavior and personal values and creating a conceptual shift that will create internal motivations for change. In general, if a client is diagnosed with Mental Retardation, he/she will not be appropriate for this program. Achievement testing and clinical interview questions will help determine if cognitive deficits are present. If these tools are not sufficient to determine cognitive abilities, intelligence testing can be utilized if there is need for further data to validate the diagnosis.

Mid-Ohio Psychological Services provides general outpatient AOD services. If a client requires more intensive services (detoxification, residential treatment, inpatient treatment, or intensive outpatient services), referrals will be made for clients and/or referral sources. Clients will be informed about the limitations of general outpatient services during the assessment procedure.