Substance Abuse Eval

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What is a substance abuse eval?

A Substance Abuse Evaluation is where you will sit down with an evaluator who will gather information about your substance use. The evaluator may provide you with documents to fill out. You will be asked questions like “how often do you drink” “when you drink, do you do so to become intoxicated” “do you ever experience black-out spells where you don’t remember drinking and what you did afterwards”. The evaluator will meet with you to discuss your responses. When finished, the evaluator will prepare a report that will be provided to the court; to the Iowa DOT and to your attorney.

A substance abuse evaluation following a charge of OWI is required by Iowa law. To get this done, you will need to obtain the name of a local substance abuse evaluator to arrange an appointment.

We highly recommend that you visit with one of our OWI lawyer specialists about where you should get this done.

Where do I go to get this done?

Ask your OWIbuster attorney for their assistance. The reasons to do so are many and one important reason is that there may be a provider who has worked with your attorney in the past. Your attorney will know what to expect and perhaps this will work to your advantage. When you are accused of OWI, you need all the advantages you can get.

If you are not using one of our lawyers, Click Here to find providers in your area. You may also call the Iowa Department of Education at 515-281-5251.

What will it cost?

$125

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What do I need to know before I go?

• Go sober. Don’t show up for your evaluation with alcohol on your breath.
• If you think you have a problem, admit it. If you need help, they will help you.
• If you drive intoxicated and cause a death, you will be facing 25 years in prison and you will do 18 years. Mandatory.
• At the evaluation, you will be asked to sign a waiver. Instruct the evaluator you will authorize the release of the evaluation to your attorney. Do not authorize a release to anyone else until after your lawyer has had the opportunity to review the report. Your lawyer will then decide what steps to take next.
• If your lawyer believes the report should be provided to the Iowa D.O.T., he/she will provide instructions to the evaluator to release the report. The Iowa DOT will not accept a report sent to them by anyone other than the provider.
• If the evaluation is that you need further counseling or treatment, the court will order you to complete the recommended program.