Month: June 2020

Obtaining a DUI evaluation and enrolling in DUI School are the initial steps in complying with the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) and a possible court requirement.

The Evaluator gathers all information to make an objective recommendation. A detailed interview is completed gathering substance use history, criminal history, driving records, and any prior arrest history during the DUI evaluation, a urinalysis is also completed. After the assessment, an appropriate course of action is recommended. Some individuals may not need any further action, but the 20-hour Risk Reduction course is an absolute requirement by the Department of Driver Services. Other individuals may need Counseling to address issues such as substance abuse, excessive alcohol use, or underlying addiction issues. The Counseling recommendation consists of either a short-term program (six to twelve weeks) or a long-term program (seventeen to fifty-two weeks) ASAM Level I program. Some individuals may be recommended as ASAM Level II and above, which is a higher level of care and requires a longer period of Counseling. Recommendations could vary. An individual may be referred to attend NA/AA 12-steps groups.

THE DUI SCHOOL IS VERY SIMPLE AND IT CONSISTS OF A FEW STEPS.

One – Complete a Needs Assessment

Two- Attend and complete 20 consecutive hours of the Risk Reduction
Program (RRP)

Three – Obtain a certificate of completion

Four- Submit an original certificate to the Department of Driver
Services

HOW DUI EVALUATIONS HELP

Given that DUI Evaluations, along with the Counseling recommendations provided, are often used to minimize and alleviate court sentences, individuals are highly encouraged to undergo evaluations as soon as possible, which demonstrates to the court and prosecution your willingness to take responsibility for your actions and follow-thru with the suggested Counseling plan. Please make sure you discuss your situation with one of our Clinical Evaluators to determine the best course of action for your case.

Testimonial: _”OMG! This was way more informative than I thought it would be and the 20 hours went by so fast.”_

Listen, like the testimony from a former client above stated, don’t let the name fool you. DUI School is also called the Risk Reduction Program (RRP) because it is an all-encompassing program that discusses the impact of alcohol use, drug use, and the consequences of making high-risk choices. The focus of the program is centered around “high-risk choices” and the facilitators are only here to inform, never to judge. At the end of the day, for many people, the class is part of a consequence and the behaviors/ arrests have already happened- there isn’t a discussion about right vs. wrong.

The way the program works is that you complete a computerized assessment, and it’s best for you to be honest. After the assessment, then you attend a three (3) day class that is a total of 20 hours. “The 20 hours went by so fast” is a fair testimony when all the students participate! During the class, our facilitator shares evidenced-based information that has been collected through research and there are videos from people who have lived through some dramatic and maybe traumatic experiences. Upon completion of the 20 hours you are given a certificate that can be used for probation, court, or license reinstatement depending on the nature of your requirements. But do not let “getting in trouble” be the reason why you take the class. If you are a parent of a new driver, enroll them in the class so they have a full understanding of the dangers and the privilege of driving.
If you have been driving for a while and just need a refresher, take the class.

I have seen people after the class and they have commented on how much easier life has been after making some subtle changes. Many of them continue to reference the workbook and one of the videos in particular.

The “SAP” in SAP Evaluation stands for “Substance Abuse Professional.” If you find yourself in need of one of these evaluations, it is more than likely you have been hoping to be cleared to return to duty or “RTD” for short. Situations that would warrant such an evaluation typically come in the form of a failed random drug screen during your employment. Failing a drug screen can feel very much like having the rug of your livelihood pulled right out from under you. Not every one that fails these tests is an alcoholic, drug addict, or a “bad” person. Often times a lapse of judgment or a momentary temptation can result in a dramatic uprooting of your ability to provide for yourself.

I will refrain from detailing the circumstances involved in a failed drug screen as it pertains to an actual alcoholic or drug addict and will give an example I have run in to lately where many workers under DOT(Department of Transportation) have failed tests and do not know why. Lately, in the United States, there has been a massive influx of both advertisement and positive marketing pointed to the CBD industry. CBD comes in many forms including oils, tinctures, pills, inhalants, and smokable versions to name a few. Many of these brands of CBD profess to contain 0% THC. For the worker who is suffering from a variety of physical ailments, this might seem like a godsend and a natural homeopathic way to ease some of their sufferings. What the companies do not inform you about is the fact that these 0% THC brands still contain a small percentage of THC which the FDA considers negligible in its ability to cause any psychoactive effects. Unfortunately, when a test of sufficient strength is administered invariably the worker will test positive for THC.

This is when an SAP Evaluation can be extremely useful. The SAP Evaluation will determine the course necessary to deem you fit Return To Duty (RTD). Recommendations will be based on the history involved, the situation which brought you to the SAP Evaluation, and a variety of other areas that will be monitored and reviewed by the Evaluator.

Tensions have been rising over the last few months. Small arguments have turned into shouting matches. The fights calm at the end of the night and are stuffed away and replaced by physical touch as an attempt at forgiveness. The cycle continues day in and day out. The tension is reaching a boiling point. After a stressful day at work, or dealing with the kids, a glass of wine, or maybe a few beers, is all you are looking forward to in order to unwind. A few drinks in and another argument starts. This time it is different. A button gets pressed, a person brought up, a text message read, a phone number seen; the shouting is not enough. The only way you are going to be heard is if you make yourself heard. A glass tossed across the room, a slap across the face, a nail breaks the skin… blood is drawn, a bruise formed, a siren heard in the distance…

Maybe this story sounds familiar to you. It is a story I hear often when a person first starts an FVIP course. It is the story of unmitigated emotion and passion loosed in a fit of fury. This even momentary violence can land someone in a program for 6 full months of FVIP. FVIP is a class meant to bring an understanding to not only what happened on the fateful event, but what happened the days before, the months before, and the misunderstandings even years into the past. Your FVIP instructor is there to hopefully take the blinders off your eyes. FVIP is meant to show you a new path to understanding your emotional states and the consequences of being unaware. Trust me we understand. There can be guilt and shame and hurt involved in the process and there can also be resentment toward the person involved in the incident. Instead of looking at FVIP as a sentence try to see it as an opportunity to really look at your life with brand new eyes. FVIP can be the first step in a new life.