How to Write Court-Approved Substance Use Evaluations PowerPoint Deck

How to Write Court-Approved Substance Use Evaluations

PowerPoint Training Deck for Forensic Clinicians & Licensed Evaluators

A Comprehensive, Step-by-Step Training on Writing Evaluations That Meet Judicial Standards

This in-depth PowerPoint training is designed for licensed clinicians, substance use counselors, forensic evaluators, and court-approved providers who are responsible for conducting substance use evaluations relied upon by judges, probation officers, attorneys, and child welfare agencies.

This training teaches you exactly how to conduct, document, diagnose, and write substance use evaluations that hold up in court, align with DSM-5-TR and ASAM Criteria (4th Edition), and clearly answer the legal questions courts are asking

Who This Training Is For

✔ Substance Abuse Counselors & Evaluators
✔ Forensic Clinicians
✔ Court-Approved Treatment Providers
✔ Licensed Therapists & Social Workers
✔ Probation-Referred Evaluators
✔ Professionals Expanding Into Court-Ordered Evaluations

What This Training Covers

🔹 Legal Framework & Referral Contexts

Learn how to conduct evaluations across criminal and civil court settings, including:

• DUI / DWI cases

• Drug possession and distribution charges

• Pre-sentencing and probation violation evaluations

• Drug court and diversion programs

• Family court, CPS, and child custody matters

• Employment, licensing board, and fitness-for-duty evaluations

You will understand what each court is asking for and how to tailor evaluations accordingly.

🔹 DSM-5-TR Diagnostic Mastery

• Current DSM-5-TR substance use disorder criteria

• Severity specifiers (mild, moderate, severe)

• Remission specifiers and controlled environments

• Substance-induced disorders vs. primary mental health diagnoses

• Polysubstance diagnostic accuracy

• Proper ICD-10 coding for court reports

🔹 Assessment Tools & Instruments

Learn how and when to properly use:

• AUDIT, DAST-10, CAGE-AID

• ASI (Addiction Severity Index)

• Timeline Follow back (TLFB)

• SCID-5 SUD Module

• Readiness-to-Change tools (URICA)

• Co-occurring disorder screens (PHQ-9, GAD-7, PCL-5)

• Drug testing interpretation (urine, hair, breath, blood)

This training clearly distinguishes screening vs. comprehensive assessment, a common court-critical error.

🔹 The Clinical Interview Process

• Informed consent in forensic evaluations

• Rapport-building with mandated clients

• Structured interview domains

• Substance-specific history documentation

• Treatment history analysis

• Trauma-informed evaluation without over-processing

• Assessing motivation and credibility

🔹 Report Writing That Courts Trust

This training walks you through every section of a court-approved evaluation report, including:

• Identifying information & referral questions

• Sources of information & collateral documentation

• Substance use history narratives

• Mental status examination

• Assessment results interpretation

• DSM-5-TR diagnostic impressions

• Case conceptualization

• ASAM-aligned treatment recommendations

• Monitoring, supervision, and court-specific guidance

• Prognosis and risk analysis

You’ll learn how to justify every recommendation so it is enforceable and defensible.

🔹 ASAM-Based Treatment Recommendations

• Matching severity to level of care

• Outpatient vs. IOP vs. residential justification

• Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) guidance

• Monitoring and drug testing protocols

• Aftercare and relapse-prevention planning

• Avoiding “cookie-cutter” recommendations courts reject

🔹 Real-World Case Examples

Includes multiple fully worked case examples, such as:

• DUI evaluations

• Child custody substance use cases

• Probation violations

• Polysubstance use scenarios

Each example demonstrates diagnostic justification, treatment rationale, and court-appropriate language.

What You Receive

✔ Professionally designed PowerPoint training deck
✔ Step-by-step forensic evaluation instruction
✔ Court-appropriate language and formatting guidance
✔ Evidence-based frameworks aligned with DSM-5-TR & ASAM
✔ Ideal for training, supervision, or expanding evaluation services

Why This Training Is Essential

Substance use evaluations are legal documents, not therapy notes. Courts expect:

• Diagnostic precision

• Evidence-based recommendations

• Clear justification

• Professional formatting

• Ethical role clarity

This training helps protect your license, credibility, and professional reputation while improving outcomes for clients and the justice system.

Important Disclaimer

This product is an educational training resource. It does not replace state-specific licensure requirements, court approval processes, or supervision mandates. Providers are responsible for complying with applicable laws and professional standards.

Ideal For:

• Court-mandated evaluation providers

• Forensic assessment practices

• Probation-referred clinicians

• Agencies expanding evaluation services

• Professionals seeking higher-level forensic competence