What is a Substance Abuse Professional?

A Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) is one who evaluates employees or applicants that have failed a DOT drug test. The DOT drug test may be a pre-employment screening, a random drug test or a test due to reasonable suspicion. An employee or applicant fails a test if they fail to show up or if they register for drugs or have an alcohol content that is above the range (.04). When an employee or applicant fails a DOT-mandated drug test they are not allowed to perform their safety-sensitive duties until they have completed a Substance Abuse Professional program.

When an employee or applicant is evaluated by a Substance Abuse Professional they will make recommendations regarding further “education, treatment, follow-up testing, and aftercare.” A SAP makes the final decision as to whether an employer can put an employee back to work in their safety-sensitive position. It is extremely important to ensure that DOT employees are drug and alcohol free to protect the safety of others. With the SAPs approval the employer ultimately decides “whether or not to place an employee behind the steering wheel of a school bus, in the cockpit of a plane, at the helm of an oil tanker, at the throttle of a train, in the engineer compartment of a subway car, or at the emergency control valves of a natural gas pipeline.” Their responsibility to protect the public is dire.

Being an Unbiased Substance Abuse Professional (SAP)

A SAP does not “advocate for neither the employer nor the employee,” rather their job is to protect the public by ensuring a proper evaluation of the employee or applicant, recommending a treatment plan and performing a follow-up evaluations.

Only when a clean return-to-duty drug and/or alcohol test is received, after treatment has been completed and a SAP gives a follow-up evaluation to the employee or applicant can the employee or applicant return to their position (if their employer welcomes their return).

If you, or your employee/applicant, has failed a drug test, SAP Referral Services can schedule an appointment with a qualified SAP in your area. For more information on our services, get in touch with us today.

source: Substance Abuse Professionals (SAP)