The fundamental responsibility of a Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) is to help ensure public safety. We take that responsibility seriously, and have assembled a highly qualified team of professionals for our SAP program.

We have an extensive network of certified programs with whom we work so that your employee can begin their program as quickly as possible.

Each employee is assigned their own administrative case manager to be the point of contact for any questions from the employee. We are here to assist you in any way we can. Learn more about how it works: SAP Process Simplified.

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SAP Evaluation and Process

Individuals who have a commercial driver’s license, or who perform certain safety-sensitive duties, are governed by the guidelines of the Department of Transportation. Under Title 49 CFR Part 40 guidelines, a person who tests positive on a drug or alcohol test is required to have a substance abuse evaluation conducted by a Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) and to follow the SAP’s treatment recommendations prior to being considered for returning to safety sensitive duties. Read more: DOT Regulations and Documents.

The Role of the SAP

The SAP’s fundamental responsibility is to 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 SAP then recommends a course of education and/or treatment with which the employee must demonstrate successful compliance prior to being considered for returning to DOT safety-sensitive duties.

The SAP also serves as a referral source to assist the employee’s entry into an acceptable program.

Prior to the employee’s return to safety-sensitive duties, DOT regulations require the SAP to perform a follow-up evaluation with the employee. This evaluation is to determine whether the employee has demonstrated successful compliance with the SAP’s original recommendations. This mandatory evaluation must be completed before the employee can be considered for return to safety-sensitive functions.

SAP Trained & Qualified

Over 33 years experience

Our Director, Eileen Dewey, is SAP trained and qualified by DOT guidelines. Read more about her background and resume here. Have questions about the process? Ask Eileen!

Columbia Treatment Center in Maryland includes certified SAP Services and many other programs with medical professionals and counselors. Call our friendly team anytime at 410-730-1333. Or, send us an email. We are now offering consultations from the convenience of Zoom videoconferencing!

Our Mission:

  1. To provide high quality SAP services in a timely and ethical manner, in accordance with 49 CFR Part 40 of the DOT Regulations.
  2. To help employees obtain appropriate help for substance abuse related problems and to contribute to the safety of the public, the employer, and fellow employees.
  3. To assist employers and employees with the DOT regulations related to the Return-To-Duty process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick links:
SAP Evaluations FAQs
 | DOT Workplace Violations FAQs | The Evaluations Process FAQs