Experience Recovery Announces Free SAP Training Program

(Newswire.net — July 23, 2018) Westminster, CA — Many employers are required to submit their employees to routine drug testing, particularly employees who operate motor vehicles. What happens when those employees fail their drug tests, though? In these cases, the Department of Transportation requires employers to suspend these employees, and to make them aware of the Return to Work program. Employees, in turn, may complete the Return to Work program requirements, and then be examined and approved by a certified Substance Abuse Professional (SAP). Experience Recovery, a leading addiction treatment center in Orange County, California, has announced a new training program, meant to proliferate this SAP designation and help more individuals return to the workforce.

“If your struggle with addiction has led you to lose your employment, it’s vital that you seek treatment from an SAP right away,” Experience Recovery comments. “Not just every addiction recovery specialist has been designated an SAP by the Department of Transportation. We’ve developed a training program to help more addiction specialists receive this designation, and to help individuals take full advantage of the Return to Work program.”

Experience Recovery is inviting individuals meeting the professional requirements to become a Substance Abuse Professional to join a free training with Steve Garnham on September 21-22 or November 2-3. The event will be help at the Courtyard Irvine John Wayne 2701 Main St. Irvine, CA 92614.

All in attendance will receive a flash drive loaded with all documentation to perform the duties of an SAP.
A SAP is a Substance Abuse Professional that, per DOT prerequisites, has specific credentials, meets qualification-training requirements including continuing education activities and demonstrates a basic knowledge and understanding of the DOT regulations that must be followed before an employee with a DOT violation can be considered for return to safety-sensitive functions in the transportation industry.

Protocol for employees to return to work includes the following steps, and a Substance Abuse Professional plays an integral in helping individual recover their career and helps businesses strengthen their workforce.

First, the employee will meet with the SAP, who will try to diagnose their drug or alcohol addiction properly and to recommend a viable path forward. A written plan will be prepared, and may involve drug or alcohol testing, or both—just depending on the violation. The employee must follow this plan to the letter.

Depending on the nature and extent of the violation, the SAP may recommend some basic education, some limited drug/alcohol treatment, or even a full in-patient addiction rehab program.

In accordance with this plan, the employee will likely need to submit to some follow-up drug and alcohol testing, at a specified date or interval.

There may be unannounced drug screenings even once the individual returns to the workplace. Note that the dates of these screenings are determined by the employer—not by the SAP.

What happens if the employee changes employers during this time? The new employer is then required to complete any outstanding screenings, as directed by the SAP—assuming the new role is safety-sensitive. The employer will find out about these responsibilities through the employee’s federal background check.

Another important note for employers is that they are not obligated to do any of the SAP follow-up screenings until the employee returns to their normal, safety-sensitive functions.

How long will these screenings be required? Usually, for a year or so. The SAP may terminate the screenings based on his or her discretion. The SAP is the only person who is allowed to make these changes. At least six follow-up drug and alcohol tests are required by the DOT.

These SAP-specified screenings do not replace the random drug tests conducted by the employer. The employee must still submit to these random tests, in addition to their screenings.

This is the basic outlook for anyone who is caught in drug or alcohol violation, and wishes to return to their job under the Return to Work program. The employer plays a role in all of this, but note that most of the heavy lifting is done by the employee in collaboration with the SAP.

Additional information can be found at www.experiencerecovery.com.