Substance Abuse Professional (SAP)
In accordance with The Department of Transportation's Revised Rules as of August 2001 (49 CFR Part 40 {Alcohol and Drug Testing}), the role of the Substance Abuse Professional (SAP); following a determination that the employee has violated prohibitions in these rules (i.e., tests at 0.04 BAC or greater, test positive for a controlled substance {marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, opiates or PCP} and other violations), the employer must remove the employee from and cannot return the employee to a safety-sensitive function until, (a) the employee undergoes evaluation. (The regulations require a substance abuse professional to recommend assistance for every employee who has a violation.) (b) The substance abuse professional determines that the employee has successfully complied with the recommended course of action.
1. The substance abuse professional conducts DOT assessments of
employee who has engaged in prohibited conduct.
2. The substance abuse professional determines if employee needs
assistance with the alcohol misuse (or illegal drug) problem. The
substance abuse professional must provide
appropriate documentation directly to the DER.
3. The substance abuse professional refers for substance
abuse counseling and/or rehabilitation drug treatment as appropriate.
At a minimum, the substance abuse professional may recommend a
Substance Abuse Education and Awareness Program.
4. The substance abuse professional cannot conduct substance abuse
counseling, prove drug treatment, drug and alcohol education
classes or refer to affiliated facilities.
5. The substance abuse professional must conduct follow-up evaluation
to determine if employees have complied with recommendations for
assistance.
6. The substance abuse professional will establish a follow-up testing
regimen. The substance abuse professional may recommend
drug/alcohol testing for those employees who have poly-substance
abuse problems. The substance abuse professional must recommend
at least six tests in the first year and may recommend continuation of
testing up to sixty months. Additionally, the substance abuse
professional may recommend a "continuing care" regimen (aftercare,
supportive outpatient, 12-Step, etc) in letter format to the DER.
7. The substance abuse professionals are licensed physicians, Social
Workers, Psychologists, Certified Employee Assistance Professionals
(CEAPs), drug and alcohol counselors certified by the National
Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors Certification
Commission (NAADAC); or by the International Certification
Reciprocity Consortium/Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (ICRC); or by
the National Board for Certified Counselors, Inc. and Affiliates/Master
Addictions Counselor (NBCC). Substance abuse professionals must
have knowledge and experience in diagnosis and treatment of
substance abuse disorders and must have knowledge of and be
familiar with DOT's regulations and guidelines. Additionally, a
substance abuse professional must successfully complete qualification
training and testing processes as of 1-01-04.
