Covid-19 Update: The paractice remains under open during the current pandemic
The only thing that stays constant is change!
With over 30 years of Drug and Alcohol counseling experience, my goal is to empower others through a state of the art counseling support and education process . New Concepts was created to individualize strategies and find direct approaches to wellness.
The SAP is not an advocate for the employer or the employee. The SAP’s primary and ONLY function is to protect the public interest of safety by professionally performing specific DOT mandated “Return to Duty” functions.
SAP DOT Evaluations and Referrals
The Department of Transportation (DOT) regulation — 49 CFR – Part 40 — defines the Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) as a person who evaluates employees who have violated a DOT drug and alcohol regulation and makes recommendations concerning education, treatment, follow-up testing, and aftercare. In order to be a SAP, you need to have certain credentials, possess specific knowledge, receive training, and achieve a passing score on an examination. There is also a continuing education requirement.
A drug or alcohol assessment generally takes between 60 to 90 minutes. A certified addiction specialist will walk you through each step. The process typically includes:
- Screening
- Assessment
- Follow-up
- Referral services
Drug and Alcohol Assessments
Drug and alcohol assessments help evaluate drug or alcohol misuse. They determine whether you’ve used drugs or alcohol over a certain period of time, and if you have a substance abuse problem. Sometimes drug and alcohol evaluations are required by prospective employers, other times they’re mandated by the court after a DUI or other unlawful act involving drugs or alcohol. Attorneys will sometimes use drug and alcohol assessments with claimants or defendants to support a case. Addiction treatment centers may use drug and alcohol evaluations to help determine what level of care you need.
In Relapse Prevention (RP), the clinician and patient work first to assess potential situations that might lead to drinking or using other drugs. These situations include, for example, social pressures and emotional states that could lead to thoughts about using substances, and ultimately to cravings and urges to use.
Relapse Prevention
Relapse Prevention is a skills-based, cognitive-behavioral approach that requires patients and their clinicians to identify situations that place the person at greater risk for relapse – both internal experiences (e.g., positive thoughts related to substance use or negative thoughts related to sobriety that arise without effort, called “automatic thoughts”) and external cues (e.g., people that the person associates with substance use).
Then, the patient and clinician work to develop strategies, including cognitive (related to thinking) and behavioral (related to action), to address those specific high-risk situations. With more effective coping, the patient develops increased confidence to handle challenging situations without alcohol and other drugs (i.e., increased self-efficacy).
Treatment must be structured to ensure smooth transitions to the next level of care, avoid gaps in service, and respond rapidly to the threat of relapse. Case management can help accomplish all of the above.
Case Management & Treatment Plans
Because addiction affects so many facets of the
addicted person’s life, a comprehensive
continuum of services promotes recovery and
enables the substance abuse client to fully
integrate into society as a healthy, substance-free
individual. The continuum must be designed to
provide engagement and motivation, primary
treatment services at the appropriate intensity
and level, and support services that will enable
the individual to maintain long-term sobriety
while managing life in the community.
Ky Washington has performed and toured in Africa, the Caribbean, and Cuba. Ky has worked in the field of Dual Diagnosis and Chemical Dependency since 1975. To add to his credits he has used his drum therapy at Charter Hospital and Bayview Hospital, and has created therapeutic drum circles in Southern California and the Mid West.
Drum Therapy
The drum or percussive instruments has existed in every culture for thousands of years. Within those cultures, the drum was used for many things including motivation, healing, spirituality, communication, fun and enjoyment.
This treasure has been with us since the beginning of time. No war can destroy it. No religion can claim it. Healers have carried its tune to wounded souls. It reunites you with your own natural rhythm and helps you find your zone. Drum/music therapy creates cohesiveness, socialization, brings down that cloak, that mask and is able to bring out the inner child. What I called the natural heartbeat which is felt at 5 weeks gestation.
Research has shown music can stimulate damaged areas of the brain that are otherwise unreachable. psychoneuroimmunology and mind-body medicine show that rhythm can enhance the immune system on a cellular level.
