Abstract
Large numbers of patients in substance abuse programs have symptoms of serious mental illness. Effective treatment and/or referral of these individuals involves accurate and timely evaluation of behaviors or symptoms which may interfere with the patient's ability to make use of addictions treatment. This guide offers a ‘current symptom’ focused assessment tool to be used by the clinician in the addictions setting in making the initial evaluation of psychiatric symptoms and behaviors. It is through the objective evaluation of the problems, symptoms and treatment needs of these complex patients that effective treatment approaches will be developed.