Substance Abuse Professional ( SAP ) – Get Scheduled Fast!

A Substance Abuse Professional ( SAP ) is a clinical officer that evaluates an employee or applicant who has violated the Department of Transportation’s alcohol or drug policy. Once an employee or applicant tests positive for drugs, the SAP has to assess the extent of their substance abuse use. The Substance Abuse Professional will then advise the employee or applicant on the right education, treatment, follow-up and post care. They also determine when a safety sensitive employee can can be considered for return to duty after a drug or alcohol citation.

Safety sensitive employees include aviation, marine, railway, commercial transport and pipeline workers. A SAP guides them through the compliance process to enable return to duty. Substance Abuse Professionals are required by law to have experience in clinical diagnosis and treatment of alcohol and drug abuse disorders. They also need to train and complete educational programs continually to remain qualified. They must be neutral and should not be inclined to either employer or employee.

Failed Drug or Alcohol Test – Time to See a SAP

Failing a drug test does not always lead to termination of an employment contract, although this decision varies with different employers. Upon submitting a positive drug test, the employer must immediately remove the employee from performing safety sensitive tasks. Employers are then required to provide the affected employee with a list of Substance Abuse Professionals in the employee or applicant’s region, or refer them to a service agent such as SAP Referral Services, even if the employee is permanently removed from their position.

SAP Referral Services (SRS) can locate and schedule an employee or applicant with a Substance Abuse Professional in their geographic region. They work with a network of providers who are qualified SAPs. The quickest way to begin the return to duty process is by enrolling in SAP Referral Services’ FastTrack Enrollment Program.

Online enrollment through the FastTrack Enrollment Program is one of the ways an employee or applicant can get paired with a SAP quickly – upon enrolling in this program, applicants or employees typically get scheduled for their initial evaluation in a matter of days. SRS adheres to all DOT regulations and will schedule employee or applicants with a qualified SAP in their area so they can get back to work fast.

For more information on the FastTrack Enrollment Program, click here. SAP Referral Services understands how important it is to get back to work quickly.