Substance abuse treatment is a condition that may be imposed to monitor a person's abstinence from alcohol and/or drugs. This condition may require people on supervision to participate in counseling, and includes various methods of testing to confirm abstinence. This also provides officers with the ability and means to directly address the alcohol and/or drug abuse of these individuals and to control their behavior.
The probation officer's duties include an initial determination as to whether there is a need for substance abuse treatment and/or testing. Once the condition is imposed, the probation officer will use the following steps to ensure compliance:
- Conduct scheduled and random drug testing.
- Refer to substance abuse programs, if appropriate.
- Continuously observe signs for drug or alcohol use.
- Take steps to control and correct the situation if people on supervision are noncompliant.