Regular alcohol and drug counselor evaluations do not meet the strict requirements of the federal department of transportation. Make sure you are not wasting your time and money.
Isn’t a SAP Evaluation Just a Chemical Assessment?
The federal department of transportation (DOT) requires those DOT regulated employees who fail a drug test, or have a refusal to test, to get a substance abuse professional (SAP) evaluation. At its core a chemical assessment is similar to a SAP evaluation in that they both will be obtaining a detailed chemical history to determine abuse or dependence of substances. Many chemical dependency treatment centers and private alcohol and drug counselors routinely perform chemical assessments for the courts in DWI situations or as part of an intake process for those seeking chemical dependency treatment.
SAP evaluators have specialized training and knowledge about the federal DOT drug and alcohol testing program and statutes. They also go beyond a simple chemical use history. The SAP evaluator will also do some fact checking. They will be in touch with family and friends of the person to see if what others report is consistent with what the person reported. They will also administer an objective measure of dependence that most chemical assessors do not perform. SAP evaluators are more thorough and assume that some employees will be more inclined to lie during an assessment to get back to work as soon as possible.
What if I Already got a Regular Chemical Assessment and did those Recommendations?
Unfortunately, the DOT will only accept evaluations and recommendations made by a SAP evaluator. This means despite your efforts, you will have to start over with a SAP evaluator, get re-assessed and follow the recommendations made by the SAP. The DOT generally requires that employers have a couple of SAP evaluator names to provide employees when they test positive, which should reduce the chances of ending up getting the wrong assessor. The reality is there are 10-20X more regular alcohol and drug counselor with most states having only a handful of DOT SAP evaluators.
How Do I Find a DOT Qualified SAP Evaluator?
As noted above, if you have tested positive and need a SAP evaluation, you should first check with your employer to see what resources they have available in locating a SAP evaluator. Employees can also check with their branch of the DOT (FMCSA, FAA, etc.) and see if they have a list of some SAP evaluators in the area. There are also some online directories that some SAP evaluator subscribe to such as www.saplist.com Otherwise, you can always do an internet search, check out websites, but we advise you verify when you call to schedule that the provider is a certified DOT SAP evaluator before paying for the service and completing recommendations.
If you are DOT regulated employee who failed a test and is in need of a DOT SAP evaluation, feel free to contact IPC so you can schedule an appointment with Dr. Chris Anderson, Psy.D., LP who can help you complete the return to duty process. Please call us now at 763-416-4167, or request an appointment on our website: WWW.IPC-MN.COM so we can sit down with you and complete a thorough assessment and help you develop a plan of action that will work for you. Life is too short to be unhappy. Find the peace of mind you deserve.
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