Empowered Citizens (EPC) is fully licensed by NC DWI Services and will assist you with your assessment in a professional, confidential and timely manner. In addition, as a Substance Abuse Professionals (SAP), we are responsible for several duties important to the evaluation, referral, and treatment of individuals with DOT violations.
A DWI Substance Use Assessment is required of everyone who is convicted of Driving While Impaired in the state of North Carolina. You cannot receive a Limited Driving Privilege without a DWI Assessment. DWI and Substance Abuse assessments and groups can only be conducted by facilities licensed by the state of North Carolina to meet requirements to restore your driver’s license.
Empowered Citizens (EPC) is fully licensed by NC DWI Services and will assist you with your assessment in a professional, confidential and timely manner. EPC will often complete an assessment the day you call to request an appointment.
These placement requirements are set by the NC DHHS DWI Services and must be followed by licensed DWI providers in the State of NC.
North Carolina law dictates that there are five placement levels for DWI substance abuse treatment and education. There are a minimum number of contact hours, time in groups or class, and minimum lengths of time a person must be involved for DWI and under 21 driving after consuming convictions.
State of NC rules require that a Substance Abuse assessment is valid for only 6 months. Counseling or ADETS must be started within 6 months from the date of the assessment or a new assessment is required by the State.
Below is what we need from you to complete your assessment:
First DUI/DWI conviction (Total lifetime).
Arrest BAC of .14 or less.
Did not refuse breath test.
Has no substance use disorder diagnosis as determined byASAM (American Society of Addictions Medicine) upon completion of comprehensive alcohol and drug use evaluation.
Must be a minimum of sixteen contact hours completed in no less than 5 sessions.
Meets criteria for DSM-V Substance Use Moderate Diagnosis.
Meets Level I ASAM program placement criteria.
Minimum of 20 but less than 90 contact hours, minimum of 60 days duration.
DSM-IV diagnosis of Substance Use Disorder, moderate to severe.
Meets Level II ASAM program placement criteria.
A minimum of 90 contact hours with a minimum duration of 90 days.
According to Health Insurance, the State of NC, the American Society of Addiction Medicine, and NC DWI Services, the Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) requires groups to be scheduled at least 3 sessions, 3 hours each for a total of 9 hours per week in treatment.
This program may be preceded by a brief inpatient stay for detoxification or stabilization of a medical or psychiatric condition.
DSM-V diagnosis of Substance Use Disorder, Severe: Upon discharge from inpatient treatment, a person is required by the State of NC to enroll in an approved continuing care or outpatient program to meet the 90-day time frame.
There should not be any significant period of time between inpatient or residential treatment and beginning the 90 days follow up. There should also be no resumption of alcohol or drug use, even in small amounts prior to the 90 day follow up.
If there are more than a couple of weeks between residential treatment and beginning the follow-up or there has been any substance use, the DWI client will likely have to begin a new treatment program.
The primary safety objective of the Department of Transportation (DOT) rules is to prevent, through deterrence and detection, alcohol and controlled substance users from performing transportation industry safety-sensitive functions.
As a Substance Abuse Professional (SAP), Empowered Citizens is responsible for several duties important to the evaluation, referral, and treatment of employees identified through breath and urinalysis testing as being positive for alcohol and controlled substance use, or who refuse to be tested, or who have violated other provisions of the DOT rules.
SAP services will provide a comprehensive face-to-face assessment and clinical evaluation to determine what level of assistance the employee needs in resolving problems associated with alcohol use or prohibited drug use. The employee will then be recommended a course of education and/or treatment with which the employee must demonstrate successful compliance prior to returning to DOT safety-sensitive duty.
Treatment recommendations can include, but are not limited to: In-patient treatment, partial in-patient treatment, out-patient treatment, education programs, and aftercare.
Education recommendations can include, but not limited to bona fide drug and alcohol education courses, self-help groups, and community lectures.
The SAP will also develop and direct a follow-up testing plan for the employee returning to work following successful compliance.
