Virtual Evaluations Available Throughout Georgia
COURT-ORDERED DRUG & ALCOHOL EVALUATIONS IN GEORGIA

A Drug & Alcohol Evaluation is a professional assessment intended to help determine whether a person's use of alcohol or other substances represents a current concern and whether education, counseling, treatment, or another intervention may be appropriate. In making this determination the evaluator may consider your substance-use history, the circumstances that led to the evaluation, relevant legal history, and other personal and behavioral information.

The resulting evaluation can provide the requesting organization with a professional assessment and, when appropriate, recommendations for additional services.

In Georgia, when an evaluation is ordered by a court or required as part of probation, it is very important to make sure the evaluator you choose is authorized by the state to administer the evaluation. If you select the wrong person, you have wasted your money and it could cause you to be in contempt.

Depending on your circumstances, the completed report may be intended for a:

• Court or judge
• Probation officer
• Attorney
• Pretrial or diversion program
• Licensing or regulatory agency
• Employer or professional organization
• Other authorized requesting party

Because requirements can vary, it is important to know who is requesting your evaluation and what they require before your appointment.

If you still have questions, let the experts at LifeSwitch help you out. Call, text, or email us for prompt, courteous and reliable information.

A court may request an alcohol or substance-use evaluation when alcohol or drugs are involved in a criminal case or when substance use may be relevant to sentencing, probation, diversion, or another legal requirement.

Examples can include alcohol- or drug-related charges, probation conditions, pretrial requirements, possession-related cases, public intoxication or other alcohol-related offenses, and cases in which a judge or attorney wants a professional assessment of possible substance-use concerns.

An evaluation may also be requested outside the criminal-court system by an employer, professional licensing organization, attorney, or another agency.

The reason for the evaluation matters because it can affect the type of assessment and documentation you need.

Not necessarily.

This is an important distinction when scheduling an evaluation in Georgia.

A Georgia DUI Clinical Evaluation is a specific type of evaluation associated with Georgia's DUI and driver's-license requirements. DUI Clinical Evaluations are subject to specific state requirements concerning the evaluator, assessment process, documentation, and potential treatment recommendations.

A general court-ordered Drug & Alcohol Evaluation may be requested for a much broader range of circumstances and may have different requirements.

For example, someone may need an evaluation because of a probation condition or non-DUI alcohol- or drug-related case without needing the specific DUI Clinical Evaluation required under Georgia's DUI system.

If you have specifically been instructed to obtain a DUI Clinical Evaluation, see our separate guide: What Is a Clinical DUI Evaluation in Georgia?

That page explains Georgia DUI Clinical Evaluation requirements, how the evaluation relates to DUI School/Risk Reduction, and when a state-approved DUI Clinical Evaluator may be required.

If your paperwork simply says Drug & Alcohol Evaluation, Substance Abuse Evaluation, Alcohol Evaluation, or similar language, check with the requesting court, probation officer, attorney, or agency if you are uncertain which type of evaluation is required.

No.

Georgia's DUI Alcohol or Drug Use Risk Reduction Program, commonly called DUI School, is a specific state-regulated program associated with DUI and certain driver's-license requirements.

A Drug & Alcohol Evaluation is an individual professional assessment.

Depending on your case, you might be required to complete an evaluation without attending DUI School. In DUI-related cases, you may be required to complete multiple separate requirements.

Completing one service does not automatically mean you have satisfied another requirement.

The exact process depends on the reason for your evaluation and the requirements of the organization requesting it.

Generally, an evaluation involves gathering information about your history and current circumstances, completing appropriate assessment or screening instruments, and participating in an individual interview with the evaluator.

Topics may include:

• Current and previous alcohol use
• Current and previous drug or substance use
• The circumstances leading to the evaluation
• Previous alcohol- or drug-related incidents
• Relevant legal history
• Family and social history
• Employment and educational history
• Previous counseling or treatment
• Other information relevant to the assessment

The purpose is to provide enough information for the evaluator to form a professional assessment rather than drawing conclusions from a single incident or questionnaire.

No.

An evaluation is intended to determine whether additional services are appropriate. It should not begin with the assumption that every person being evaluated requires treatment.

Depending on the findings, recommendations could vary according to the individual's circumstances.

If education, counseling, treatment, or another service is recommended, the evaluator can explain the recommendation and the appropriate next steps.

Remember that the organization requiring your evaluation may have its own rules about what must happen after the evaluation. A court or probation department, for example, may require documentation showing that recommendations have been followed.

Before your appointment, gather as much information as possible about why the evaluation was requested and where the completed documentation needs to go.

Depending on your circumstances, useful documentation may include:

• Court paperwork
• Probation documents
• Attorney instructions
• Information about the charge or incident
• Previous evaluation or treatment records when applicable
• DUI/Risk Reduction documentation if your case involves a DUI
• Contact information for the person or agency requesting the evaluation
• Instructions concerning where the completed report should be submitted

If your paperwork uses a specific name for the evaluation, provide that information when scheduling.

This can help determine whether you need a general Drug & Alcohol Evaluation, a DUI Clinical Evaluation, or an evaluation meeting another organization's requirements.

LifeSwitch currently provides virtual Drug & Alcohol Evaluation appointments, allowing eligible clients throughout Georgia to complete the evaluation remotely.

Virtual appointments can be especially helpful for people who live outside the Peachtree City area or who need to fit an evaluation around work, school, family responsibilities, or transportation limitations.

Although LifeSwitch Driving Academy is located in Peachtree City, Georgia, our virtual evaluation services are not limited to Fayette County.

When scheduling a court-ordered evaluation, make sure the requesting organization will accept the evaluation and its documentation. Courts, probation departments, licensing agencies, employers, and organizations outside Georgia may have their own requirements.

LifeSwitch evaluations are performed by Mike LaTella, Certified Addiction Counselor and approved Clinical Evaluator.

An alcohol or substance-use evaluation is more than an online screening quiz. It involves professional assessment and an individual review of the circumstances relevant to the person being evaluated.

Mike also provides alcohol and drug addiction counseling separately from LifeSwitch Driving Academy. Individuals looking for counseling, treatment information, or broader information about addiction and recovery services can learn more through his counseling practice at LifeSwitch.life.

Drug & Alcohol Evaluations involve sensitive personal information.

Information from an evaluation is handled according to applicable privacy and confidentiality requirements. When documentation must be provided to a court, probation officer, attorney, treatment provider, or another authorized recipient, appropriate authorization and disclosure procedures apply.

Before your evaluation, make sure LifeSwitch knows who needs to receive the report and whether you have been given specific submission instructions.

After the required assessment and interview are completed, the evaluator reviews the information and prepares the appropriate documentation.

Depending on the purpose of the evaluation, the report may document the evaluator's findings and any recommendations resulting from the assessment.

With the appropriate authorization, documentation can then be provided to you or an authorized recipient such as your attorney, probation officer, court, or other requesting organization.

If you have a court date, probation deadline, or other time-sensitive requirement, schedule your evaluation early enough to allow the assessment and documentation process to be completed.

Requirements for Drug & Alcohol Evaluations vary between states, courts, probation departments, and licensing agencies.

An evaluation completed in Georgia may not automatically satisfy the requirements of an organization in another state.

If your evaluation is connected to an out-of-state court case, driver's license, probation requirement, employer, or licensing agency, tell LifeSwitch before scheduling your appointment.

Whenever possible, provide the written requirements from the requesting organization so they can be reviewed before the evaluation is completed.