Frequently Asked Question (FAQ)

Alcohol and Drug Evaluations

1. What type of evaluations and assessments does your company offer?

2. What is an Alcohol and Drug Evaluation?

An Alcohol and Drug evaluation is an in-depth look into the severity of an individual’s substance use with the purpose of making a diagnosis and recommendations for treatment. An alcohol and drug evaluation, sometimes referred to as a Substance Abuse Assessment looks into the type of substance, the dosage, and the frequency of using a substance. You can think of an alcohol and drug evaluation as a one on one interview between you and a licensed therapist or a doctor.

3. Why are Alcohol and Drug evaluations required for court?

There are many situations in which a court can order you to participate in a drug and alcohol evaluation. Because substance abuse and drug and alcohol dependence are often associated with certain criminal behaviors, alcohol and drug evaluations can help court officials make final decisions in a court case.

4. What are the questions asked during an alcohol and drug evaluation revolved around?

5. What happens after an Alcohol and drug evaluation (AD)?

No, the assessments are a serious medical or evaluative tool. There is no rational way in which all responses could be “no”. This indicates a form of manipulation and will not work out in your best interest.

6. Who conducts Alcohol and Drug Evaluations?

This procedure is usually conducted by licensed and trained professionals specializing in understanding human behavior. Social workers, psychiatrists, therapists, nurses, doctors, and psychologists are some examples, to name a few.

7. What is a Child Custody/Parental Fitness Assessment?

A child custody evaluation is a process in which a professional evaluates a parent’s skills and parenting deficits along with the child’s psychological needs to make a recommendation to the court regarding their parental fitness, custody, and visitation. The purpose of the evaluation is to ensure that the needs of children are being met as best as possible.

8. When would I need a child custody evaluation?

Suppose parents cannot work together to decide on the details of their custody agreement; child custody or parental fitness evaluation can be ordered. The judge presiding over the case will order a custody evaluation to give the parents and the court recommendations for the best parenting arrangements.

9. What is a DUI Clinical Evaluation?

A DUI Clinical Evaluation is a one-on-one substance abuse assessment about convictions or arrests related to driving while under the influence (DUI). The evaluation assesses potentially addictive and substance abuse behaviors for various substances and their correlation to an individual’s habit of driving under the influence.

10. Why do I need a DUI Evaluation?

Driving under the Influence is a serious offense that has taken many lives each year. Preliminary estimates show that 20,160 people died on America’s roads through June 2021. Those numbers do not account for a full calendar year. Many of you were not involved in accidents and are not responsible for the loss of life, but the more you participate in high-risk choices, the greater the possibility of harm or death. After a DUI conviction, you have to go through a formal DUI evaluation called the Alcohol and Drug Uniform Report. This assessment aims to look at your past behavior with drugs and alcohol and measure the possibility you’ll drive impaired again.

11. What does a DUI Evaluation measure?

A DUI evaluation measures an individual’s history of choices, current choices, and the likelihood of future behavior of high-risk decisions.

12. What does the DUI Evaluation process consist of?

During a DUI Evaluation, you can expect to participate in a face-to-face interview with an evaluator who will ask you about your current and past alcohol and drug use. If there are any past DUI arrests or convictions on your record, you should be prepared to answer questions about them. A drug screen is requested to finalize and correctly identify risk levels in many cases. The evaluator’s recommendations for you will be recorded in a written report.

13. What is an Out of State DUI Evaluation?

An Out of State DUI Evaluation is specific to anyone who has been arrested, convicted, or charged with a DUI in a state outside of the state where they currently reside and hold a driver’s license. If I lived in California and got a DUI while crossing through Arizona, then I need an Out of State DUI Evaluation.

14. Why is the fee more for an Out of State DUI versus a regular DUI?

The fee is different because there is typically more paperwork for the evaluator. Evaluators will have to consider the regulations in the state in which they reside and the state in which the offense occurred. Often, this involves driver’s license reinstatement or prevention of license suspension.

15. I have paperwork from the state where my DUI occurred that needs to be completed.

In most cases, your DUI evaluator will know and have access to the paperwork necessary to provide to the DMV in the state where your DUI was acquired. If there is any other paperwork that needs to be completed, you should bring it up to your evaluator’s attention during the time of the evaluation. They will be more than happy to help you complete it.

16. What is Family/Domestic/Intimate Partner Violence Evaluation?

These are specialized evaluations of domestic violence–specific issues.

17. What type of questions are addressed in a domestic violence evaluation?

Domestic Violence evaluations help answer questions about:

18. In what type of cases can a domestic violence evaluation be used?

19. What is an Immigration Hardship Waiver Assessment?

An immigration Hardship Waiver Assessment is a psychological evaluation conducted when a resident of the United States is involved in a case where immigration issues (ex. Deportation of a relative) causes extreme and exceptional hardship. This assessment is used in many immigration cases to measure and examine the socioeconomic circumstances, financial difficulties, and emotional health impact caused by these immigration issues.

20. What is Mental Health Evaluation?

A mental health evaluation gives a doctor, counselor, psychologist, or other licensed professional a picture of how a person feels, reasons, thinks, and remembers. A mental health professional can diagnose mental disorders by using a combination of interview questions, written questionnaires, and tests.

21. What mental health disorders can a mental health evaluation help diagnose?

21. What signs and symptoms can indicate the need for a mental health evaluation?

22. How do I prepare for a mental health evaluation?

It would be a good idea to think about the reasons for the assessment and any thoughts and feelings you may have experienced in the days and weeks before the evaluation appointment. You might want to think about the symptoms you’ve been having, troubling thoughts and behaviors that may have occurred, events that may make the symptoms worse, how long the symptoms last, and how often the symptoms appear.

23. How do I get help after a mental health evaluation?

After your mental health evaluator reviews your results with you, they will then recommend a treatment plan. The plan may include psychotherapy or medication. If medication is needed, we can refer you to psychiatrists who can prescribe medication. If psychotherapy is needed, we have outpatient programs that can assist.

24. What is a DFCS Assessment?

A DFCS assessment, similar to a child custody evaluation, helps evaluate an individual’s parental fitness. A DFCS assessment is specifically required when a family comes to the attention of the division of family and child services (DFCS). A child protection agency can order a DFCS assessment to help decide whether to move a case forward for investigation.

25. What is a Substance Abuse Professional Evaluation?

A substance abuse professional evaluation is a face-to-face clinical assessment of an individual to determine what they need to resolve their problems associated with alcohol or drug use before they are allowed to return to a safety-sensitive position. SAP evaluations are specific to employees who have violated the department of transportation’s (DOT) drug and alcohol program regulation.

26. When is an SAP evaluation required?

You will need to make an appointment for an SAP Evaluation if you have violated DOT drug and alcohol regulations as an employee. When you have violated DOT drug and alcohol regulations, you cannot again perform any DOT safety-sensitive duties for any employer unless you complete a return-to-duty process. The first step in this process is an SAP evaluation.

27. Does anyone have the authority to change SAP's initial evaluation?

No one may change the SAP’s evaluation or recommendations for assistance. A third party cannot make more or less stringent SAP recommendations by changing the SAP’s evaluation or seeking another SAP’s evaluation. The SAP who made the initial evaluation may modify their initial assessment and recommendations based on new or additional information.

28. Will insurance cover the cost of my SAP Evaluation?

Insurance will not cover the cost of an SAP Evaluation because a positive drug test does not fall under the category of expenses incurred out of “medical necessity.” If you do find that your insurance company will reimburse you for your costs, our office will be happy to provide you with a receipt to submit for potential reimbursement.

29. What is an Anger Management Evaluation?

The Anger Management Evaluation is designed to examine cognitive and affective factors that may interfere with an individual’s ability to manage anger.

30. Why do I need an Anger Management Evaluation?

This evaluation determines if your expression of anger is a state (short-term: at the moment experience) or a trait (long-term: recurring expertise).

31. Why do I need to provide a police report for an Anger Management Evaluation?

A police report is required because it provides additional information from the incident. The police report allows the evaluator to balance all of the data from the assessments, self-reports, and referral sources.

32. What if I answer "no" on all of the assessment responses? Will I not get classes?

No, the assessments are a severe medical or evaluative tool. There is no rational way in which all responses could be “no.” This indicates a form of manipulation and will not work out in your best interest.

33. I am in a rush. I need to set up an appointment today, complete the evaluation today, and get my results by the end of the day today. Is that possible?

Yes, Suppose you are looking to book an appointment, complete the evaluation, and be sent an evaluation report all in the SAME DAY. In that case, we offer expedited services for an added cost of $45 on top of the evaluation price.

34. I am not the best with computers and technology.

No problem ! Our dedicated administrative staff is here to assist with any technological issues that may prevent you from taking advantage of our services.

35. Do you take payments over the phone?

We do not make any payments or credit/debit card information over the phone. All payments can be made through individualized invoices. If you would like to pay in cash, please come to one of our offices in person.

36. Do you take payments over the phone?

We are not conducting in-person evaluations to help protect you and our staff from any virus that may still be spreading during this unprecedented global health crisis. Some evaluations, like mental health evaluations, can only be done in person because of the nature of the assessment. If we need you to come in person for any reason, we will let you know.

37. How do I make an appointment?

If you would like to make an appointment, please call our office at 800-683-7745. One of our dedicated administrative staff members will be more than happy to assist you.

38. What is DBHDD?

DBHDD stands for The Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. This state agency focuses solely on policies, programs, and services for people with mental illness, substance use disorders, and developmental disabilities.

39. What determines education or treatment?

The evaluation is an interview and response to a series of assessment tools. Recommendations are specific to individual circumstances and are appropriate to the person’s level of risk to themselves AND the community. Remember, evaluations are typically ordered because of in involvement in the Criminal Justice System, a system that wants to keep ALL of its members safe.

40. Why do programs cost so much?

Classes at AACS Counseling, LLC. are compared with the market rate and are typically less expensive than other providers. Participants must pay out of pocket because the Criminal Justice System (the courts) is offsetting the cost necessary for the state to incarcerate offenders AND the collateral cost of incarceration to offenders.

41. Can I pay at the end of my evaluation?

Unfortunately No, When you book an appointment for an evaluation, you have up until the time of your appointment to make a payment. An assessment cannot start until payment has been made.

42. Do you provide follow-up treatment based on the drug and alcohol evaluation results?

Our evaluations can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour to complete.

43. How long does an evaluation usually take to complete?

Indeed we do; we offer different programs designed to provide the best treatment based upon the findings drawn from your drug and alcohol evaluation.

44. Does the Drug and Alcohol Assessment Require a Urine or Drug Test?

A urinalysis is administered to finalize a drug and alcohol report in many cases. Your evaluator will let you know if one needs to be conducted and provide you with the information on where to go to get one done.

45. What type of Treatment, Classes, and groups does your company offer for rehabilitation?

46. Are there any prerequisites that need to be met before I can join one of your treatment programs, classes, or groups?

Before registering and enrolling you into one of our treatment programs, classes, or groups, we will need you to provide a referral, evaluation, or court order that states the type of treatment you need and why. If you cannot provide any of this documentation, we will need to evaluate you before proceeding with treatment.

47. Why do my classes not match the evaluation?

There are occasions when you complete an Alcohol and Drug Evaluation and are recommended for “Cognitive Skills classes.” This may be because you do not meet the criteria for a Substance Use Disorder per the Diagnostic Statistical Manual – Fifth Edition (DSM-V). Still, your involvement with substance use is problematic to the health and wellness of yourself or the community.

48. Why do I need to do classes if I did them before?

If you have completed evaluations and education or treatment before and your maladaptive behaviors persist, you may need more rehabilitation.

49. How are the classes held?

Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, most classes are held virtually via the ZOOM platform. Some courses are required to meet in person, depending on the nature of the program.

50. Does your company offer any internship opportunities?

Most definitely! Whether you are looking for a social work internship, an internship to complete an undergraduate/master’s program, or need continuing education units, we can help. Our training department chair, an LPC, has earned a Ph.D. and an Ed.D. in counselor training and positive psychology.

51. I'm looking for a personal counselor. Do you offer any individual or one-on-one counseling?

Yes, we do! If group therapy is not what you are looking for, our company offers individual, family, and couples counseling.

52. What type of services does your company offer in Spanish?

We have a team of dedicated and trained bilingual staff members who are ready to assist with translating ALL of our services to those who need them.

53. Do you offer online court-ordered classes ?

If you’re looking for a legitimate court-ordered class that can be done online, you’ve come to the right place. Our company offers the most affordable online courses that can be done effectively and conveniently from the comfort of your home.

54. How can I sign up to take my court-ordered classes online?

To sign up for and take advantage of our online court-ordered classes visit us on the web at www.aacscounseling.com Once you’re there, you will be able to select and enroll in a specific course and begin immediately. All of our court-ordered classes are designed to be taken 100% online!