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An SAP for DOT evaluates and makes recommendations on employees who have violated a department of transportation (DOT) drug and alcohol program regulation. 

An SAP evaluation or drug abuse evaluation may be a face-to-face clinical assessment of a private to work out what they have to resolve their alcohol or drug use problems. Face to face is mandatory because this might offer important physical cues vital to the evaluation process. 

During the face to face evaluation, the SAP will determine whether the worker features a problem or addiction and assess the extent. This is often done by gathering a myriad of data. 

The SAP evaluation will include standardized testing, collection of data regarding the history and current drug/alcohol use, psychological state history, case history, social and physical health and random drug/alcohol testing. 

Attention will be placed upon the rule violation and why the worker must possess the SAP evaluation. Other information obtained during the evaluation is the problems with health, work, family, personal and interpersonal problems caused by use and current mental status.

Once the evaluation is complete, a diagnosis, course of treatment, and treatment plan are provided by the SAP. Therefore, the DOT employee must comply with returning to figure. 

A number of the recommendations, supported the evaluation might be for in-patient treatment, partial in-patient treatment, out-patient treatment, education schemes, and aftercare. If education is suggested, this might include education courses on drugs and alcohol, self-help groups, and community lectures.

The SAP may assist the worker in finding treatment providers for services since this is often not done by the SAP. However, this SAP position is that of a liaison and guide and thus cannot refer the worker to their practice. This is often to stop a conflict of interest.

Any third party can’t change the report provided to the employer, and employees and employers are prohibited from seeking a second SAP evaluation to get another recommendation. 

Once the worker has successfully complied with all recommendations, there’ll be a face to face follow-up evaluation. This evaluation will determine if all recommendations are completed and if aftercare is required and how many follow-up tests are needed.

Information Source:

SAMHSA | Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

U.S. Department of Transportation

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration | U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

The case of driving under drug or alcohol influence is a serious charge. Hence, now the governments recommend attending DUI School to reduce the risk of going inebriated because neither the government wants to risk you nor anyone else because of such negligence.

A DUI charge can also result in canceling your license. Moreover, such serious issues can be avoided. However, these stay on your record for a longer time. And, if you are found guilty of doing such activities more than once, it can also cause severe penalties along with long jail time or imprisonment.

So, DUI programs are usually suggested to reduce the risk of similar incidences. In such programs, your addiction rate is examined, and the treatment is indicated according to that. The rate of risk differs from low to high. There is some advice for behaving or handling the evaluations.

Dos and Don’ts of Evaluation

Even if you feel defensive or you are feeling stressed with an urge to lie to prove your innocence. Just don’t do that. Lying in the evaluations cannot help you avoid the charges. Instead, it can increase the chances of potential harm.

Lying or whitewashing your present scenario will also harm you in the long run. As in the DUI programs, they usually assess your past behavior and give you advice or suggestion in recovering with the chances of reducing the risk.

The evaluation and programs are suggested to help you recover and don’t repeat the offense. Sitting in jail is way better than attending a DUI program and cooperating with it. If you are a heavy drinker, you might feel the urge to get intoxicated.

But, don’t do that; it can risk you in severe charges. Instead, calmly co-operate with the professional in your session, take the educational treatment seriously with the group tasks.

The government has decided to mandate a program for those convicted of the offense of driving under the influence. You can get it here in our DUI School – Risk Reduction Program – RRP. Once you complete the program, a certification will be issued to you over your performance.

The program is mandated in the cases of driving under the influence of the prohibited substance, driving with possession of an illegal substance, or possessing substance by an underage while operating the vehicle.

The main motive of keeping the program mandatory is to reduce the chances of the same offenses, keep an eye on the safety of the public, and ensure the health of the individual and their addiction from prohibited substance usage is also recovered.

After taking the risk reduction program, it is also evident that many individuals have benefitted from their addiction and impacting substance abuse. Certified professionals make the program to assess the candidates with utmost care.

Stages At-Risk Reduction Program

1. Assessment Stage
2. Intervention Component Stage

In the early stage of the program, the candidate is assessed on their usage of the alcohol and drug impacts and their behaviors. Later in the same stage, a comprehensive questionnaire is made to assess the candidate’s history of substance usage, triggers, and disorders (if any).

The questionnaire comprises 130 questions; make sure you answer the questions with honesty. Violation of the test advised by the law can also lead you to severe punishments. Moreover, these tests can help you cope up with your addictions, too, stay honest with them.

Then, after completion of the questionnaire comes the second stage. The intervention stage can take up to 20 hours, depending on the prescribed time by your professional. But, don’t worry; you don’t have to sit for 20 hours straight. The session is covered by taking several days.

It is not a tough task; it is more like a therapeutic and counselling session. In the session, the educational values and risks of driving under the influence will be elaborated. Your curriculum can vary up to your risk level and your addiction severity, it helps you with coping up with the trigger too.

Increasing cases of family violence have been a concern for the government from a long time. Major reason behind violence with family members is the inability to deal with emotions under a particular circumstance. Many people can’t control their anger and want to dominate over the other partner. American Alternative Court Services has been contributing to the society with online family violence class by educating people on ways to deal with family violence.

Procedure followed in the class

The complete family violence intervention program is designed for the duration of 24 weeks. Interactive online family violence class enables the people to recognize their anger triggering points. People can openly discuss about the problems they face.

The thought process of a person is analysed and then a few changes are suggested by the friendly counselors that may help in coping up with anger. Motive of these classes is to make people recover and take complete control over their emotions. After the successful completion of online family violence class, a person has a fair idea of how to control anger and replace it with a much healthier response.

Online Family Violence Class at AACS

If you are concerned about your own violent behaviour or any other family member, then fill the sign up form for the classes. There is also no need to go anywhere because online mode of classes is available for people. Court-approved classes are conducted separately for different genders to facilitate openness and comfort level for discussion.

Physical, mental and emotional abuse can snatch away the happiness of any family. Even the childhood of the kids gets badly affected due to awful environment at home. So, don’t let yourself and the family members suffer. Take an initiative to bring small changes by learning from online family violence class at AACS and live a happy life.

It is a serious crime to drive under the influence of alcohol or drug. This not only impacts the roadways but also affects the health of a person. Considering it as a violation of law, the individual must undergo assessment and then only he or she would be able to resume the duty. Online out of state evaluation by AACS is a program that allows the people to get the evaluation process done in a quick and convenient way.

Different states may abide by different rules and regulations. For example, if there is a driver from Georgia who has received a DUI from any other state, then he has to successfully complete DUI School, substance treatment program and clinical evaluation. The counselors are well-aware of the laws set by different states and strive to provide right evaluation report that would be accepted easily by the court and employer.

Whole procedure of assessment is quite simple. The person should book an appointment for the online out of state evaluation and submit all the documents that are given by other state. Evaluator takes a question and answers session with the accused and then gives various suggestions and programs that a person must undertake in order to go back to work.

The interview process usually takes an hour to complete, but it may extend longer if you have DUI arrest. Don’t be scared before the evaluation, as the counselors and staff at AACS is friendly and helpful. Best possible help is provided to finish the process within a limited time frame. But, it also depends on the person how he behaves in the evaluation process. If he is ready to accept the mistake and wants to improve, then the process becomes easy.

Now that you are well-versed with the pros of online out of state evaluation by AACS, just sign up the form for further process.

DOT (Department of Transportation) requires the SAP (Substance Abuse Professional) to conduct evaluations for employees in safety-sensitive positions as regulated by (DOT). DOT has made it legitimate for all the companies to conduct the pre-employment, post-accident, random or reasonable suspicion, and return-to-duty drug and alcohol tests for the employees holding commercial driver licenses (CDLs). Our counsellors are well qualified who follow the step by step procedure needed to help you through the process of RTD (Return to Duty) as specified by DOT as against the violation of its drug and alcohol rules’.

Who needs SAP Evaluation?

1. An employee who tests positive for drugs or alcohol.
2. An employee who holds CDL.
3. An employee has to obtain a substance abuse evaluation as the condition of the employment or for continued employment.

DOT-SAP Evaluation involves two steps:

1.     The first stage SAP Evaluation involves

• Face-to-face clinical interview and assessment.

To determine if the substance abuse problem exists or no and if it does then, what level of treatment shall be needed.

• The further recommendation in the form of treatment for drug/ alcohol addiction or education(as determined by our SAP)

• Continuous monitoring of the employee under the treatment process.

       2.The follow-up SAP Evaluation includes

• Follow-up session that helps SAP to determine successful completion of treatment and thus, provide Notice a “Notice of Compliance,” or a “Notice of Noncompliance,” depending upon the employee’s performance throughout the programme.

• Recommendations for further education or treatment (if needed)
• Aftercare suggestions (as deemed necessary)
• Written report to DER (Designated Employer Representative)

If the employer is satisfied with the report, he can order the conduct of Return to Duty test which should have a negative result to get you back on board, however, if it turns out to be positive you have to undergo the assessment and follow the program repeatedly, till you are deemed fit.

Information Source:

SAMHSA | Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

U.S. Department of Transportation

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration | U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

The clearinghouse has been introduced as the secured online database to maintain records about the CDL(Commercial Driving Licence) drivers’ who are covered by FMCSA’s drug and alcohol program. This also includes drivers with commercial learner’s permits (CLPs).

DOT has made the clearinghouse SAP evaluation mandatory for the employees who test positive for drug or alcohol abuse. SAP is the user in the Clearinghouse who is also required to register himself on the clearinghouse. As soon as the driver is found positive he must register on the FMCSA Clearinghouse and contact SAP professional. The list of the qualified DOT SAPs may be provided by your employer so that you can fix your appointment as soon as to complete the return-to-duty process.

EVALUATION PROCESS

• The driver registers himself on the clearinghouse where the employer then, enters the violation record on the driver’s name.
• The driver receives a notification in the form of e-mail or text that information has been entered on his record.
• The driver can now access the list of qualified SAPs and choose one which he wishes to.
• Similarly, SAP receives the push-up notification from the clearinghouse mentioning the driver’s name in the form of his connection request.
• The SAP clicks on “Accept Request” or “Deny Request” following which he can see the driver’s records if he accepts the request.
• On the initial assessment, SAP intimates the driver about his treatment recommendation and also enters the date of the final assessment meeting.
• SAP, after determining that the driver has successfully complied with the treatment, enters the date of the demonstration which serves as the means for the employer who then, orders the conduct of Return to Duty test.

The result of the RTD test must be negative to get back on your duty else, you have to undergo the treatment procedure again (education or treatment) as suggested by SAP.

Information Source:

SAMHSA | Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

U.S. Department of Transportation

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration | U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

SAP, Substance Abuse Professional is a certified person who is accountable for conducting the drug and alcohol assessment. Addition is a major problem in United States and this problem witnessed an increase during the pandemic. Stress and anxiety became the reason of this increase. Person driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drug poses direct threat to safety of people. Taking assistance from substance abuse professional can solve this issue in an effective way.

Complete process of SAP evaluation starts with a personal interview. After looking at the medical history and drug test report, the counselor asks several questions about the personal life, social life and lifestyle of the addicted person. They try to analyze the reasons behind the problem and also enquire from friends and family members about the person.

There is nothing to worry about the evaluation as SAP; substance abuse professionals are there to help you in best possible way. A proper treatment plan is prepared by the experienced SAP to ensure that the problem of addiction is gone permanently. There are cases where the person again starts taking drug and alcohol after taking the treatment. SAP keeps in touch with the person to monitor the condition even after the treatment is done.

If your employer or court has ordered you to take the evaluation, then it is imperative to take the sessions regularly. Permission to return back to work will not be granted to the employee who has not followed the treatment plan.

To get a valid review report, you must get the evaluation done from an authentic place. American Alternative Court Services has 25 years of experience in providing outpatient addiction counseling and addiction counseling to people in Georgia. A team of doctors, SAP substance abuse professional and psychotherapists works together in order to eradicate the difficulty of substance abuse from the society. Fill the signup form to get the evaluation done in a convenient manner.

Information Source:

SAMHSA | Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

U.S. Department of Transportation

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration | U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

DOT assessments are recommended by the Department of Transportation for people who have been charged of consuming alcohol and drugs during duty hours. This assessment is very essential for individuals working in transportation industry. Violation of rules and concern for public safety makes this assessment mandatory for employees. A person can return back to work only after successfully completing the DOT assessment and counseling sessions with substance abuse professionals.

The evaluation for drugs and alcohol is crucial for truck drivers, ship captains, train engineers, pilots and so on. When employees related to these occupations want to return-to duty or have done any accident, then they are supposed to have DOT assessments for the employer or court. Report of such evaluation is an important document if you have any case running in the court. It can be helpful in minimizing the duration of sentence.

If you have been accused of reckless driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, then you must get the assessment done from a reliable center. The American Alternative Court Services has a team of expert counselors and substance abuse professionals who ensure that an extensive and personalised plan is designed for every patient.

Right from physiological and psychological tests are conducted by the professionals to evaluate the present condition, behavior pattern and severity of addiction. After this, comprehensive sessions and interviews are conducted for the patients by the counselors. When the person is able to follow the plan and recover from the addiction, he or she gets a green signal to return back to duty.

Whether you are an employer or a person who is willing to undergo DOT assessments, then don’t forget to contact AACS. Just sign up the form and get the procedure done without facing any trouble. Staff and counselors help in the evaluation with a friendly approach. Best possible treatment plan is prescribed to live a healthy and happy life.

Information Source:

SAMHSA | Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

U.S. Department of Transportation

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration | U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION