SAP Evaluations in Marietta, GA

We provide DOT approved substance abuse evaluations

Our substance abuse counselors are here to help you get back to work. Our substance abuse professionals (SAP) are DOT, FAA, FTA, PHSA, USCG, FMCSA, and FRA compliant. The Diversion Center is officially approved to help you through the return to duty process.

Same day appointments are available.

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(404) 503-8069

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DOT approved SAP Evaluations are available at The Diversion Center in Marietta.
DOT approved SAP Evaluations are available at The Diversion Center in Marietta.

A substance abuse counselor can help you return to work.

A substance abuse professional (SAP) is a person who evaluates employees who have violated DOT drug and alcohol testing regulations. If you fail or refuse a DOT drug or alcohol test, you will be taken out of safety-sensitive duties until you complete the return-to-duty process.

Substance abuse professionals have a duty is to protect the public interest and ensure that drives who go through the return-to-duty process are fit to return. We will provide a substance abuse evaluation in order to make recommendations for the course of treatment, education, follow-up testing and/or aftercare.

DOT Approved Substance Abuse Evaluation

The DOT Return to Duty Process

  1. The employee completes a comprehensive face-to-face clinical assessment with the SAP Evaluator.
  2. The SAP Evaluator makes recommendations of treatment and/or course of education for the DOT employee.
  3. The employee finishes their education and/or treatment program.
  4. The SAP Evaluator provides a face-to-face follow up evaluation to determine if employee is in compliance with the initial evaluation and recommended treatment and/or course of education.
  5. If everything goes well and the employee completes the education and/or treatment program, they will be given a notice of compliance to return back to work.

The role of a Substance Abuse Professional

The SAP is certified, trained and has the expertise necessary to evaluate employees who fail or refuse drug testing. If you fail or refuse a drug test on the job and your position falls under the guidelines of the US DOT, it is necessary for you to see a substance abuse professional (SAP).

Diversion Center SAPs, in accordance with the guidelines of the DOT, are the professionals who:

  • Evaluate employees who have violated a DOT drug and alcohol program regulation.
  • Make recommendations about the education, treatment, follow-up testing and aftercare of the individual.
  • Monitor the process.
  • Represent the major decision point—and in some instances, the only decision point—an employer may have in choosing whether or not to place an employee at the steering wheel of a school bus, at the controls 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.
  • The ability to say that the employee has—or has not—complied with his recommendations.

The responsibility of the SAP is a far-reaching one, especially because it is crucial to the safety of the many millions of people who use transportation in the country each year.

Work with a Substance Abuse Professional

A substance abuse professional does:

  • Make a face-to-face clinical assessment and evaluation to determine what assistance is needed by the employee to resolve problems associated with alcohol and/or drug use.​
  • Refer the employee to an appropriate education and/or treatment program.
  • Conduct a face-to-face, follow-up evaluation to determine if the employee has actively participated in the education and/or treatment program and has demonstrated successful compliance with the initial assessment and evaluation recommendations.
  • Provide the Designated Employer Representative with a follow-up drug and/or alcohol testing plan for the employee.
  • Provide the employee and employer with recommendations for continuing education and/or treatment.

A substance abuse professional doesn’t:

The employer (the DOT) decides whether the employee should be placed back to work in a safety-sensitive position. The SAP is the person who verifies if the employee has successfully complied with their initial recommendation.

In is important to note that a SAP is not an advocate for the employer or the employee.

The role of the SAP is to protect the public interest in safety by professionally evaluating the employee and recommending the appropriate education, treatment, follow-up tests and aftercare.

It is also essential to know that the SAP does not provide counseling to the employee. SAPs do not make a “fitness for duty” determination as part of the re-evaluation (unless required to do so under an applicable DOT agency regulation).

Substance Abuse Professional Credentials

Physicians

Social Workers

Psychologists

Counselors

Employee Assistance Professional

SAP Evaluations are performed at the Diversion Center on 2759 Delk Rd #2425 in Marietta, GA 30067

SAP Evaluators meet the following criteria:

  • Clinical experience in the diagnosis of substance abuse-related disorders.​
  • An understanding of how the SAP role relates to the responsibilities employers have for ensuring the safety of the traveling public.
  • Meet all SAP standards and training requirements.
  • Hold qualifications and credentials to fill the role of SAP.
  • Demonstrate the knowledge and understanding of reporting that the employee has or has not complied with the SAP’s recommendation.
  • Regularly attend continuing education activities.
  • A passing score on the examination for the role of SAP.
  • Understand the U.S. DOT’s expanded and revised drug use and alcohol misuse prevention rules for the commercial transportation industries.
  • Possess the background and reasoning of the DOT’s drug and alcohol testing program.
  • Know the DOT’s drug and alcohol testing rules.
  • Knowledge of DOT drug testing requirements, such as laboratory testing and collections.
  • Understand the role of the SAP in the initial employee evaluation, referrals for education and/or treatment, the follow-up evaluation, continuing treatment recommendation and the follow-up testing plan.
  • Knowledge of reporting and record-keeping requirements.
Work with an SAP Evaluation professional
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