What is a Substance Abuse Professional (SAP)?

An individual who assists individuals who are battling drug or alcohol addictions is known as a substance abuse professional, or SAP. The SAP serves as a liaison between businesses and their employees when it comes to DOT-related substance abuse testing and assessment. It administers intervention services to those working in the transportation industry in order to maintain public safety and advance a drug-free community.

A SAP does not represent the interests of either the company or the employee. In the case that the employee resumes carrying out safety-sensitive duties, his or her recommendations protect the public's safety.

The primary duty of the SAP is to conduct a thorough face-to-face assessment and clinical examination to determine the extent to which the employee requires support for issues related to alcohol usage or the use of illegal drugs. The SAP then suggests an educational or rehabilitative program, with which the individual must successfully comply before being allowed to resume DOT safety-sensitive work.

A SAP evaluation is required for any employee who has a confirmed positive DOT test result, a DOT alcohol test result showing an alcohol concentration of 0.04 or more, a refusal to test (including adulterating or substituting a urine sample), or any other infraction of the use-of-drugs-or-alcohol policy. Any positive outcome in accordance with a DOT agency regulation is a breach of the DOT's drug and alcohol policy.

If the SAP concludes that the treatment was successful, the SAP will provide your employer a report of compliance. Then, your company (or a prospective employer) may request a return-to-duty test, which must come back negative. The collection of specimens will be monitored.

If the test for return to duty is positive, you will now be in violation. It will be required to start freshly with a new assessment and treatment recommendation.

The SAP will send a report of non-compliance to your employer and require you to continue with the program if it finds that you didn't cooperate with the treatment plan or that your participation was insufficient.

Why is implementing the SAP program important?

At the U.S. Department of Transportation, safety comes first. Having operators who are completely drug and alcohol-free is a key component of the safety policy for all modes of transportation, including those on land, water, air, and rail. At all times and in all situations, we want and demand safety-conscious staff.

The transportation industry has made significant efforts throughout time to lower the frequency of incidents and crashes that are specifically linked to drug and alcohol use. However, despite significant attempts to prevent them, some transportation workers remain taking illegal narcotics or abuse alcohol.

After an employee violates the drug and alcohol testing policies, they must be immediately removed from safety-sensitive duties. Employees should not be put back on safety-sensitive duty until they have been submitted for an evaluation and have successfully followed the suggested treatment.

If you are in need of locating an SAP near you, visit this link for more information (Substance Abuse Professionals (SAP) | US Department of Transportation) www.transportation.gov/odapc/sap After completing the program, you may contact us to conduct your follow up & return to duty drug and alcohol testing by scheduling on our website or calling an expert today!

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