SUBSTANCE ABUSE EVALUATIONS

Michigan requires a substance abuse evaluation for license restoration. Some lawyers request them to assist in plea negotiations or sentencing.

For driver license restoration, Michigan uses a standard form which includes all of the following information.  If I see you in order to prepare a substance abuse evaluation in support of a request for a license, then this evaluation will include the following sections:
 

1. Lifetime Conviction History – You will need to provide me with accurate information because this section must include a listing of all crimes involving drugs or alcohol.  I encourage you to refer to your driving record and criminal records in searching for this information. 
    

2. Lifetime Support Group History – If you’ve ever gone to AA/NA/Smart/Celebrate Recovery or any other 12-step program or substance abuse support groups, then such attendance or participation should be listed here. I encourage you to provide a detailed list of when and where these meetings were attended at. 
    

3. Lifetime Treatment History for Alcohol and/or Drug Abuse – The only way for me to know about your treatment history is to learn about it from you.  The hearing officer will want to know about all the treatment you’ve completed, including in or out-patient treatment, and even driver intervention classes.  Please bring a detailed history including where you obtained treatment, dates of admission, dates of discharge, discharge status, and provide all treatment plans if you are able to. 
    

4. Lifetime Relapse History – I encourage you to be completely open and honest in providing a detailed relapse history. This has little impact on my prognosis but is required to review to assist in providing a continuum of care recommendation.
    

5. Diagnostic Impression – Based on my interview of you, your score on the test I give you, and my review of your letters and urinalysis, I will be diagnosing you.  I will then place this diagnosis on the form, along with the reasons for this diagnosis I encourage you to provide any and all, specifically the most recent, psychiatric attendance and diagnosis provided from any source of treatment, including but not limited to a psychiatrist, therapist, facility, or primary care physician. This will assist me in reviewing your history so I can make a proper diagnosis. 
    

6. Testing/Assessment – When I meet with you, I will provide you with substance abuse assessments to help me determine a proper diagnosis. 
    

7. Client Prognosis – In this section, I will indicate whether I feel you have your addiction under control and whether I believe that you will drive under the influence again. I take this very seriously and will provide an honest prognosis. This prognosis may not be good. If you are not ready for a good prognosis, then I may tell your lawyer that you require more treatment or a longer period of sobriety before I can provide a good prognosis.  If this is true then you may want to discuss your options with your lawyer.
    

8. Continuum of Care – In this section, I will detail and and all recommendations for continuum of care I feel would benefit you in your ongoing recovery program. 
    

Before you come to see me, please be sure to specify what kind of evaluation to prepare and for what purpose so that I can best meet your needs. I encourage you to bring everything above with you to help the process of this session to go efficiently. It is your responsibility to provide all information accurately. We will not be held liable for any missing information not provided to us by you or your lawyer.