How Can I Find a Substance Abuse Professional Near Me?
“How can I find a Substance Abuse Professional near me?” “Why is it so difficult to find an available appointment with a Substance Abuse Professional near me?” “Is there a Substance Abuse Professional near me?” If these questions sound familiar to you, you’ve come to the right place.
If you’ve recently failed a DOT-mandated drug and/or alcohol test you must first complete the SAP process before you are able to return to any DOT-mandated, safety-sensitive position. In order to complete the SAP process you’ll need to have an appointment with a Substance Abuse Professional (SAP), receive an evaluation and then successfully comply with their outlined recommendations for treatment and/or education before being cleared to submit to a return-to-duty drug and/or alcohol test.
What is a SAP?
SAP stands for Substance Abuse Professional. SAPs are responsible for evaluating employees who have failed a DOT drug and/or alcohol test and making recommendations regarding treatment, along with follow-up testing and plans for the employee’s continuing care. Their findings are often the deciding factor for the employer, regarding whether or not the employee can submit to a return to duty drug and/or alcohol test.
When Does Testing Occur for DOT-Mandated Employees?
DOT-mandated employees, or applicants, are tested for drug and/or alcohol upon pre-employment, whenever there is reasonable suspicion of substance use, and when certain accident occur during work. If an employee fails the drug test, they will be removed from their safety-sensitive position immediately. They must successfully complete the SAP process before they will be considered ready to a safety-sensitive position.
The SAP Process
First, the employee is evaluated by a DOT-qualified SAP. The SAP will submit their recommendations for education and/or treatment. The employee must successfully comply with the recommendations of the SAP and pass the return-to-duty drug and/or alcohol test. The SAP will then present the employer with their recommendation, informing them that the treatment plan has been complied with and the employee can submit to a return to duty drug and/or alcohol test. It is then up to the employer to decide whether to allow the employee to return to work.
Finding a Substance Abuse Professional Near Me
The search for a SAP program can be a lengthy process. If a DOT-mandated employee fails a drug and/or alcohol test, the employer is responsible for providing a SAP list or a service agent referral. A SAP list may seem simple enough, but it can be a frustrating process. The employee must call the numbers provided, then leave messages for the SAP. As they run through the names, they will have to wait return messages, in hope of finding an available SAP in their area.
Using a service agent makes locating a Substance Abuse Professional a simpler, more efficient process. When you use a service agent, such as SAP Referral Services, they locate a qualified SAP in your area. They work with an entire network of SAPs nationwide, ensuring that you will be connected quickly.
Contact SAP Referral Services today and find out how to sign up for their FastTrack Enrollment Program. Included in this program are:
- Initial evaluation scheduling
- 2 – Face-to-face substance abuse evaluations by a DOT SAP
- Recommendations for employee education and/or treatment
- 2 – SAP reports (initial and follow-up)
- Recommendations for return-to-work test
To learn more about the FastTrack Enrollment program, or to sign up today, click here.
SAP Referral Services (SRS) is the leading facilitator for mandated substance abuse evaluations. SRS maintains an extensive network of qualified providers in more than 3,000 locations nationwide for testing violations that originate from any of the DOT’s modes including FMCSA, FAA, FRA, FTA, USCG and PHMSA, or a company’s internal drug and alcohol testing policy.