Something I thought that I did well during the interview was completing the informed consent
form and I asked him how he felt going into a treatment program. He said he wanted to stop
hurting and would like to go treatment but he didn’t want to go to inpatient treatment where
he has to be away from his family and job. I assured him that going to inpatient treatment was
totally voluntary and it was all at his pace and what he felt comfortable with. I asked him if he
would be interested in going to a detox facility to help him through his withdrawals. I thought
saying these things made him feel comfortable that everything was up to him and that were
other options. Letting him know he didn’t have to do it right now, I think helped him to feel
more comfortable in starting a recovery.
During the interview there were things I could have done better. I should have asked more
about his past usage and family history of using. I also could have focused on how he increased
his usage and went from one substance to another. According to the text on page 500, it is
imperative for healthcare professionals working with substance abusing persistent pain
patients to understand that the lifestyle of the addicted people often makes them intolerant of
