United Kingdom
Castle Craig, Scotland
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Page last updated
Monday 29th Jun 2026
Page written by
Victoria McCann
Looking into addiction assessment is a positive first step towards a healthier, sober future. At Castle Health, the starting point is a free, confidential pre-admission screening call with our admissions team.
It is a straightforward, honest conversation designed to help you understand whether our residential treatment programme is the right fit for you, and to help us understand how we can best support you if it is.
What is a pre-admission screening?
A pre-admission screening is a free phone call with a member of the Castle Health admissions team. It’s the first step for anyone seriously considering residential addiction treatment at Castle Craig in Scotland or Smarmore Castle in Ireland.
The call is confidential. What you share stays within the team, and you’re in control of how much you choose to discuss. There’s no pressure to have everything figured out before you call, and no obligation to proceed with treatment once the call is over.
This is different from a full private addiction assessment, which is a more detailed clinical evaluation carried out by a specialist. That’s a separate, paid service. If you are unsure which applies to your situation, the admissions team can help you work that out.
What does a free addiction screening involve?
The call is a conversation that meets you where you are. Our admissions team are experienced, and they’ll guide things at a pace that feels manageable.
What we ask about
During the confidential addiction assessment phone call, we’ll go over:
- Your current relationship with alcohol or other substances, including how long things have been difficult and how your daily life is being affected.
- Your physical health and any medications you take, because these can be important factors in planning safe treatment.
- Any previous support or treatment you have tried, and what your experience of that was.
- Any mental health difficulties alongside your substance use, which our clinical team will want to understand from the outset.
You do not need to prepare answers in advance. The more openly you are able to speak, the more the call can do for you. You share only what you feel ready to share.
"I'm 5 years sober now and I know I wouldn't have survived another month before I joined the treatment programme. Castle Craig is an amazingly special place where miracles really do happen, I'm blessed to have found you."
What a pre-admission screening is not
We want to be clear about this, because we know people arrive with different expectations.
This call is not a diagnostic service. We cannot tell you whether or not you have an addiction. What we can do is have an honest conversation about what you are experiencing and whether residential treatment at Castle Health is a suitable next step.
If you are looking for a formal alcohol addiction assessment or drug addiction assessment to clinically evaluate the nature and extent of your use, that is a paid clinical service carried out by a specialist. Our team can point you in the right direction if that is what you need.
Who is this for?
The free addiction screening call is for anyone seriously considering residential treatment. This includes people exploring options for alcohol addiction or drug addiction, as well as other substance-related difficulties.
It is also for people in your life. Family members, close friends, and healthcare professionals can all contact our admissions team on behalf of someone they know. We will be clear about what we can discuss and how confidentiality applies in that context.
You don’t need to have made a decision before you call. Many people who contact us are still working out whether treatment is something they want to pursue at all. That is a completely reasonable place to be, and it is exactly what this conversation is for.
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Why contact Castle Health?
Our admissions team approach every call with the same understanding that runs through everything we do. We see addiction as a health condition, not a personal failing, and every person who contacts us deserves honesty and respect.
We will not tell you that residential treatment is the right answer if we do not believe it is. If our programme isn’t a suitable fit for you, we will tell you, and we’ll do our best to point you in the right direction. That kind of transparency is not something we see as optional.
The call is free. It’s confidential, and it carries no obligation.
What happens after your screening call?
If residential treatment looks like the best step, our admissions team will walk you through what comes next. The admission process is laid out, and you learn what to expect in the early days of your stay. We also break down how costs and funding work.
What we learn during the screening call also helps our clinical team prepare ahead of your arrival. So if you go on to be admitted, your care is shaped by your circumstances from day one, never built from scratch on arrival.
If outpatient treatment is a better fit, we’ll discuss that too. The goal of the call is to make sure we give you the right recommendation, not simply what moves things forward most quickly.
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We are here to listen, guide and help you every step of the way. Call us today and together we can find a solution that suits you.
Our admissions process is confidential and designed to suit and support you and your circumstances. Find out more about the Admissions process.
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From the UK: 020 3098 2503
International: +44 (20) 3098 2503
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Frequently asked questions about addiction assessments
Is the pre-admission screening call really free?
Yes. The call itself costs nothing. A full private addiction assessment, which is a formal clinical evaluation carried out by a specialist, is a separate paid service. If you’re unsure which one you need, the admissions team will help you understand the difference.
Can I call on behalf of someone in my life?
Absolutely. Family members, close friends, and professionals regularly contact our team on behalf of someone they know. We’ll explain clearly what information we’re able to discuss and how confidentiality applies in that situation.
What if I am not sure whether I need residential treatment?
That uncertainty is exactly what the screening call is designed to help with. You don’t need to have made a decision before you get in touch. Many people who call are still weighing things up. The call gives you enough honest information to make a more considered choice, whatever that turns out to be.
How is a pre-admission screening different from a private addiction assessment?
A pre-admission screening is a free phone call to assess whether residential treatment at Castle Health is appropriate for your situation. A private addiction assessment is a formal, paid clinical evaluation carried out by a qualified specialist. Both serve a purpose, and the admissions team can explain which is more relevant to where you are right now.