Life After Addiction: A Road to Recovery
If a DOT-mandated safety-sensitive employee is found to be misusing drugs, they will be immediately removed from their safety-sensitive duties and must be evaluated by a DOT SAP qualified professional. The Department of Transportation takes drug/alcohol violations seriously.
Roughly 20 million Americans are battling some type of substance abuse disorder. In addition to alcohol, the most common drugs of abuse are prescription painkillers such as opioids, heroin, cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine, and ecstasy. Fortunately, substance abuse treatment can help.
DOT and SAP Qualified Professionals: The Road to Recovery
SAPs evaluate employees and recommend treatment and/or education that will help the employee with their unique situation. The employee must successfully comply with the SAPs recommendations before their second evaluation. Once they meet with the SAP again, and the SAP determines they have complied, they can be referred to submit to a return to duty drug and/or alcohol test.
Overcoming an abuse or addiction problem is challenging, but a program outlined by a SAP is designed to support recovery.
SAP Process and Return to Duty
Returning to compliance is, naturally, important to employees who want to protect their careers. However, recovery affects other aspects of an individual’s life too. Substance abuse negatively affects an individual’s finances, their relationships, and their health. The SAP process doesn’t only support the individual’s work compliance, but other important elements of their life and overall well-being.
For safety-sensitive employees, treatment and/or education is an unfortunate consequence of testing positive for drugs or alcohol but it is also a life-changing event. Substance abuse disorders are serious; treatment is the key to managing a substance abuse misuse or addiction. SAPs recommend the ideal treatment for an employee’s needs.
Looking for a SAP in your area? Get in touch with SRS to learn more about the SAP process and find a SAP quickly. SRS can generally schedule an initial evaluation with a DOT SAP qualified professional within 72-business hours. Get in touch today!