Addiction counselors and clinicians in Albuquerque face the same challenge as professionals across the country: they are frequently asked to write substance use evaluations — for courts, probation departments, treatment programs, and employers — without ever having received formal training on how to do so.
In New Mexico, substance use evaluations must align with current clinical standards including the DSM-5-TR diagnostic criteria and the ASAM Criteria (4th Edition) for level-of-care recommendations. Courts, probation offices, and treatment agencies in Albuquerque rely on these standards to make decisions about diversion, sentencing, and treatment placement.
Whether you hold a LADAC (NM RLDMB) credential or are working toward licensure, this guide provides the practical framework you need to write evaluations that satisfy New Mexico courts and reflect best practices in the field.
The primary addiction counseling credential in New Mexico is the LADAC (NM RLDMB). This guide supports the evaluation writing competencies required by New Mexico's credentialing board and is aligned with IC&RC standards recognized nationwide.
Professionals in Albuquerque holding or pursuing CADC, LCADC, LADC, MAC, SAP, LCSW, LPC, LMHC, or any other substance use-related credential will find this guide directly applicable to their evaluation practice.
Get the only step-by-step guide that demystifies substance use evaluation writing for New Mexico clinicians.