Abstinence and Recovery Monitoring

 

Abstinence and Recovery Monitoring is a program that verifies compliance of an already agreed upon abstinence and recovery plan.

More and more, mediators, attorneys and judges are recommending abstinence and recovery monitoring to avoid conflicts between parties, to verify abstinence and to identify treatment and recovery failure in a timely manner.

 

 

My experience has shown that too many family law settled substance related cases fall apart because there is no accountability and guidance. When the case falls apart it is difficult to establish the facts that led to the breakdown. The breakdown can end up costing hundreds of dollars in legal fees. With Abstinence and Recovery Monitoring each case is carefully documented and followed. Failure to comply or relapses are caught early so that effective intervention can happen.

( PDF File )

 

Abstinence and Recovery Monitoring includes:

 

Once a month clinical interviews

Collateral contacts with treating professionals and significant others

Monitoring of random testing schedules

Continuous alcohol monitoring using Soberlink

At home drug testing using U-Verify technology

 

Types of family law cases that would benefit from Abstinence and Recovery Monitoring:

 

High conflict cases

Multiple treatment/relapses

Multiple issues

Vulnerable children

High conflict co-parent relationship

 

 Benefits of Abstinence and Recovery Monitoring:

 

Reliable documentation regarding progress or lack of progress

Minimizes misinformation

Increased successful long-term recovery

Manage expectations

Early intervention to prevent abstinence and treatment failure

Decrease length of a relapse

Help attorneys negotiate agreements that are treatment and recovery sensitive

Take the other parent out of a "monitoring role", increase trust between the parties and therefore, decrease co parenting conflicts

Improve the co-parenting relationship