A policy brief by the Justice Policy Institute confirms what Substance Abuse Professionals have already known.

http://www.justicepolicy.org/images/upload/04-01_REP_MDTreatmentorIncarceration_AC-DP.pdf

Publication Year: 2004

Publisher

Justice Policy Institute
4455 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite B-500
Washington, dc 20008
Phone: 202-737-7270
Website: http://www.justicepolicy.org/
Email: info@justicepolicy.org

SAP qualification is the process by which an individual becomes licensed to provide evaluations to workers who have violated a DOT drug or alcohol program regulation. SAP is an acronym for Substance Abuse Professional. An SAP can evaluate and make recommendations concerning education, treatment and follow up for an individual. The Department Of Transportation has created very specific mandates for who can qualify as a Substance Abuse Professional. An SAP must have certain credentials; receive training and possess very specific knowledge. In addition there is a Continuing Education requirement.
In order to become an SAP the DOT requires you to be one of the following:<\p>

• Licensed Physician
• Licensed or Certified Psychologist
• Social Worker
• Employee Assistance Professional
• Alcohol or Drug abuse Counselor certified by NAADAC Certification Commission or ICRC Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse

And also possess knowledge of:

• Clinical experience diagnosing and treating substance abuse disorders
• Part 40, Permanent DOT regulations, SAP guidelines and any changes to those guidelines.
• An understanding of how the role of the Substance Abuse Professional relates to the responsibilities of employers to ensure the safety of the traveling public.

In addition an SAP must receive qualified training which includes:

• The nine required components laid out in Section 281 (c) of Part 40.
• A score of %75 or higher on an approved exam
• 12 Continuing Education Contact Hours every three years relevant to SAP duties.

These qualifying exams are offered by organizations such as The National Association for Addiction Professionals or organizations approved by the NAADAC to offer these examinations.
For a list of agencies offering these exams click here.

In addition Treatment Solutions Network offers re-qualification exams and continuing education hours at our semi-annual Back to Basics Conference. Our Conferences are a fun way to fulfill your duties in an environment that feels more like a vacation than a job requirement!

Upcoming Conferences:
SAP Training Reno Nevada

SAP Training New Jersey

ABC News Recently reported on a “virtual reality game… that presents various temptations” the game created by Duke University Professor Zach Rosenthal, allows recovering addicts to make their way through a computer generated world that resembles the world they may encounter when leaving treatment. As Rosenthal puts it “What we’re trying to do is take people into a virtual crack-related neighborhood or crack-related setting and have them experience cravings, just like they would in the real world”. Rosenthal as many other professionals in the addiction field believe, cravings are a learned experience and can be unlearned.

In a nutshell the addict is put into a situation where a strong craving is encountered and once the craving begins to fade the therapist ties the moment of decreased urges in with a tone. As the article describes, “For example, if an addict ends up in a tempting situation, he or she can take out the phone donated by the program, dial a number and hear that tone. The addict remembers the sound learned in the therapy session, and the craving should subside.”

This idea is not new and has been used in other forms for quite some time. Dr. Paul McKenna, a world renowned hypnotist, author and now TV Star on the the Learning Channel TV Show I can Make You Thin, uses similar associative therapy methods to help people curb many addictions, including food, smoking, and drugs.

The power of one’s mind is certainly nothing new to addicts. These therapies are certainly something worth looking into. Learned behaviors drive the disease of addiction and the outcomes of these studies will certainly help save lives.

For more information, go to www.dukescience.org

Treatment Solutions Network assists Union Members and their families find addiction treatment facilities throughout the country that meet their needs, clinically. We work with the finest, licensed treatment facilities in the nation. We don’t rely solely on what’s available, locally.

Another benefit of using Treatment Solutions Network is that each Union Member has a Case Manager assigned to monitor and track that individual’s progress. This insures the individual is receiving the best possible treatment. This also insures that any issues can be resolved before they become problems. Issues like disability forms and Family Medical Leave paperwork can be taken care of by our Case Manager so the person in treatment can concentrate on their recovery.

In outcome studies of patients discharged from substance abuse treatment, approximately 65% to 70% of patients have been found to relapse within one year of treatment. The vast majority of these patients usually relapse within the first 90 days (Hunt et al. 1971). We believe this statistic is due, in large part, to individuals that attend treatment facilities that are not equipped to handle their issues. The nearest substance abuse treatment facility isn’t necessarily the best facility for you and your issues. We believe every case is different and should be handled as such. Our carefully compiled group of Addiction and Dual Diagnosis Experts do a national search and select the facility that best meets the needs of the individual. We fit the individual to the proper facility, not necessarily the first one found or the closest program.

At Treatment Solutions Network, we are revolutionizing the way people seek and obtain substance abuse treatment. We literally, take ALL the guess-work out of this process. It is our contention that, if addicted individuals receive the proper treatment the first time, it eliminates the need for subsequent attempts. They will be on the road to lasting recovery. Also, by getting it right the first time, the problem becomes less of a drag on family members, co-workers and the cost of healthcare insurance.

This article was written By Vincent Ceraso, BA, CEAP, SAP, CAI, For more information on substance abuse treatment for Union Members and their families, please contact Vincent Ceraso at 877-41-SOBER (76237) ext. 8