what is SARA a review

Introduction and Basic Description

Development

The development of SARA was actually an evolutionary process. G. Alan Marlatt, Ph.D. produce the Drinking Profile with William R. Miller, Ph.D., also produced the comprehensive Drinking Profile, a subsequent version of for the analysis of drinking behavior. However, over the years it became evident that new instrument was necessary for working with clients who abused drugs or multiple substances. The SARA was developed in response to this need.

Purpose of SARA

The SARA is designed to identify the components of a person’s substance abuse behavior chain, i.e., the antecedents and consequences of drug and / or alcohol use.

Uses of SARA

• Development of individualized treatment plans that include a variety of treatment interventions and support services.
• Another use of SARA is to teach relapse-prevention and coping skills to clients.

Appropriate population:          

·         Person (Adolescents and Adults)

• Person involved in a substance abuse treatment plan program
• Person wo have a history of drug or alcohol abuse
• Person whose ability to avoid substance abuse relapse is in question
• Respondent should possess normal hearing and adequate understanding of the English language

·         SARA is not recommended for use with individuals whose behavior or emotional state precludes the possibility of completing interview      

Time to Complete (min):  1 hour

Reporter: Individual himself or herself

Administering method: Individually and Oral

Qualified users:

·         Psychologists

·         Psychiatrists

·         Social workers

·         Physicians

·         Nurses

·          &

·         Substance abuse and mental health counselors

Assessment Material:

·         The Professional Manual

·          Stimulus card

·         The 4-part Interview Record Form

·         Three Relapse Prevention Planning Forms

Sara Interview Record Form

·         Part 1: It focuses on the pattern of use of drugs or alcohol during the 30-day period preceding the most recent use.

·         Part 2: It identifies antecedents of substance use during the same 30 day period.

·         Part 3: It identifies positive and negative consequences of substance use in the 30 days period.

·         Part 4: It examines responses to the last slip or to initial use of drugs or alcohol.

Relapse Prevention Planning Forms

·         Form 1: It helps to identify the client’s substance abuse behavior chain.

·         Form 2: It is about pretreatment skills employed to avoid substance use.

·         Form 3: It provides a section for developing treatment plan goals

Administrative Guidelines and Instructions

1. Using the Sara Interview Record Form

·         All instructions for administering the interview are included on the SARA Interview Record Form.

·         Throughout the Interview Record Form specific instructions for the interviewer are printed in plain type and enclosed in parentheses.

·         All information printed in bold type is to be read to the client as written.

2. Using the Stimulus Card Side A

·         Stimulus Card Side A used to help respondent answer items 22 and 31.

·         The interviewer simply places stimulus Card-Side A  in front of the respondent  for reference the identifying feelings experienced just before or after the first drink or first use of a particular drug.

·         After recording responses the interviewer can identify specific problem to be addressed in the treatment plan.

3. Using the Stimulus Card Side B

·         Card Side B use for item 30 asks the respondent to use a five-point rating scale to describe his/her self confidence in avoiding drug or alcohol use.

·         For this item, the interviewer should place Stimulus Card-Side B in front of the respondent for reference when providing this rating.

Completing and Using the Relapse Prevention Planning Forms

When the SARA interview is completed, the interviewer may use the client’s responses to complete a behavior chain or series of chains, i.e., identifying the antecedents, behavior and consequences associated with substance use.

Planning Form 1

·         (Pretreatment Substance Abuse Behavior Chain). This form is used to create the substance Abuse Behavior chain.

·         The chain is also identifies consequences which can be sort term and long term & can b positive or negative.

Planning Form 2

• (Current Pretreatment Relapse Prevention Skills) Form 2 is used to identify skill which the client has used successfully in the past for managing antecedents.
• Responses to items 39 can be used to identify current coping strategies reported by the individual and may be incorporated in the treatment plan for managing slip; Counselors can also describe on form 2 an individual’s ability to assess consequences related to substance abuse.
• The client rating may be useful in determining his/her experiences for successful treatment outcome.

Planning Form 3

• (Relapse Prevention Treatment Plan Goals). Whereas Relapse Prevention Planning Form 1 and 2 assist to identify inadequate coping skills, Form 3 helps to describe treatment goals which address specific skill deficits.
• The treatment Plan should include methods to identify personal high risk situations and to develop coping skills for use in such high risk situations.

Updating the Information for Sara

• The Relapse Prevention Planning Forms should be updated when new information is disclosed by the client during the courses of treatment.
• This might occur as the client is exposed to new high risk situation, as new skill deficits are revealed during treatment, as slip or relapse occur, or as new coping skill develop.
• Behavior chains should also be modified as new information is revealed over the course of treatment.