After everything has been said, and done, the government works very (((Slowly))).

Still make phone calls, and find out what you need to know, and do. BF:hug::hug::hug:

You are right Mari, some of the rules don't apply to people with bipolar disorder and drinking...

When I went to the intake interview at the first place, I tested negative for a substance abuse disorder because of the nature of the test questions, and because I was only drinking 1-2 every month or so at the time. I also passed the face to face interview because I just answered her questions and didn't offer anything extra. So, I avoided a further substance abuse evaluation and didn't have to face alcohol counseling at the time. I just didn't fit their mold.

You all know about my drinking history, why I stopped, and the relationship there between alcohol and hypo/mania. So I'll spare you, but I explained it in the class (minus the s/s attempt) and I made it clear that I was highly motivated to stop drinking because I'm BP.

I told the instructor that I stopped drinking for 3mo following the DWI, drank very little for a few months, and had my last drink on July 20th.
I also told him that I was very disappointed that the program didn't focus more on abstinence from alcohol, and I did mention my (limited) involvement in AA. I also told him privately that my husband is a heavy alcoholic and it worries me, makes me sad, and sometimes disgusts me to watch him drink so much that it actually makes it easier for me not to drink.

In my mind, that qualifies me as someone who has recognized her own problem is addressing it appropriately, and was discussing it as expected during a program that was aimed at alcohol education. Or at least a program that was marketed that way. There should be no "Gotcha!"

But according to the posts on the internet, it doesn't take much to get referred to aftercare. And the organization will not file proof you took the driving class until you meet after care requirements if you're referred. But you never know who's writing these posts and when they were written. I happened upon them by chance, and it's not like the internet is inundated with them. But there were plenty of warnings to keep your head down and your mouth shut. I wish I had found them before I went to the class. I think Mari had already warned me though.

After scouring the internet some more, I read that I was/am supposed to have a 1hr exit interview within 15 days of the class (I don't know how old the page is). And they use the information from the driving program and that interview to determine what kind of after care you need, if any. I received no such interview, and at no time was it mentioned. Of course I called the driving school because I'm a pain in the (expletive) ;) They said they no longer do them. Maybe they have nothing to base recommendations for after care on then? Maybe they no longer make after care recommendations? I may still have to face an exit interview because my case is being referred back to the original organization and I don't know what their practices are.

I bet you can guess what I'd say if I have to have an exit interview...
Maybe I'll just get a phone call or a letter in the mail telling me that I have new requirements I must meet before I can even think
about getting my license back.
Or maybe the original agency will contact me to schedule that exit interview. But according to what I read, they have only have 15 days from the end of the program to do it.

When we all left on Sunday with suitcases in hand, we were left with the understanding that the ordeal was over and the paperwork would just be filed with the necessary agencies, with the exception of some people who were still fulfilling their alcohol counseling requirements.

Maybe this is all for naught, and there is no more exit interview/after care anymore. Or maybe the instructor isn't an (expletive) and realizes I don't need it and reflected that in his notes. But it makes me nervous that it took me 2 calls to the driving school asking about when the proof of the class will be filed- resulting in a mysterious consent form suddenly materializing that will refer me back to my original agency. I have a feeling the driving school might question why I was never referred to substance abuse counseling in the first place.

I caught the postman yesterday and delivered the consent form right into his hot little hand, so it should arrive at the driving school tomorrow. I have to wait for them to get it to the original agency, and then wait for that agency to act upon it. In my experience with the first agency, I've found them to be morons. After care or not, I expect some kind of mess.

I can't see myself waiting more than a week before contacting the original agency (if they haven't already contacted me). This will accomplish one of two things:

1) When they pull my file they'll tell me if I'm going into after care or
2) I'll find out if they've filed the paperwork yet

I'm suffering from high anxiety right now, and something that's probably familiar to most of you... catastrophic thinking....

I'm going to have to try to worry about things in steps because as a whole this is all daunting and overwhelming.

I'm going to worry no matter what, but this week I'm going to try to contain my worries to the possibility of after care and how in the hell I'll be able to meet the requirements without transportation and with limited financial resources if I have to deal with it. It's going to kill me to wait a week before calling to get some answers.

Hopefully, I'm worrying for nothing. That would be nice for a change.

I did some research on NH law regarding these intakes and classes and this is what I found:

"For individuals who have screened negative for a likelihood of a substance use disorder, pursuant to He-A 507.02, but for whom new information is revealed during an IDEP session or otherwise learned by the IDCMP that indicates the appropriateness of an evaluation, the IDCMP shall require the client to submit to the evaluation and shall notify the client’s prosecutor of such requirement."

IDEP session= the driving class I just took
IDCMP= the organization I took the intake with

Barring a miracle, I'm (expletived).

The evaluation will be in NH, I will have to get a ride, and it will cost me $200.

I have no idea what their recommendations will be, but I'm not letting them within a thousand, make that a million, miles of the mental health department. They will have to satisfy themselves with what pdoc has to offer.

I guess if I can find an appropriate counselor locally in MA I can go that route for an extra $350. It's something to consider since there's no way I can get regular transportation to NH and I won't have to worry about paying for auto insurance anytime soon, since it will take me God knows how long to satisfy NH that I'm fit to drive.

I'm probably going to stick to my plan of waiting a week and calling. I don't wait well, and the sooner I get this started, the sooner I get it over with.

I am (expletived). I knew it. Nobody's ever accused me of being stupid.

Kay,

Stick to your plan of waiting a week.

Then go to a lawyer for a consultation.
It is possible that for a reasonable amount of money he or she can help you.


M

I agree with mari, wait a week then see how you feel.
(((((HUGS)))))
bizi

Kay. I am thinking that you may need to talk to a Lawyer too. I'm sorry. BF:hug::hug::hug:

Thanks guys :grouphug:

NH laws regarding DD are extremely tough and the way the law is written there is no way out of this unless the organization decides not to do the evaluation, and that's not going to happen. They have to comply with the law. A lawyer can't fix this.

However, if I disagree with the organization's findings or their service plan is ridiculous, I can pay for a second opinion out of pocket.
Also, if I request a reasonable substitution (like going to my own pdoc or using a qualified counselor out of state) and they refuse, I have a right to a hearing.
And there's an appeals process.
I'll do more research on that when/if I need to, but I did skim the law regarding it already.


I'll probably do more research on the evaluation, but this is what I know:

It includes a bunch of standardized tests designed to identify substance abuse disorders and they rely pretty heavily on the results.

I'm sure I could pass those tests easily without showing deception because they're usually easy to see right through, but there's no point in doing it since they know I've already admitted to being an alcoholic. But I'm sure I'll be able to minimize things.

I know from the intake and the driving class that it's going to be hard to answer a lot of the questions because it's hard to tell sometimes if they're asking about the past or present. I have a feeling I'm going to have to ask whoever is administering the tests about that a bunch of times.

Anytime you answer yes to a question like, "Do you have a relative who is an alcoholic?," or, "did you start drinking before the age of 21?," it's another risk factor and another strike against you.

I'm not owning up to anything I didn't talk about in the driving class because I don't want to score so high that they're forced to recommend a ton of counseling. But I did talk about bipolar disorder and that's going to throw up a ton of red flags and there's nothing I can do about that.

Then they do a face to face interview and I can explain what I've been doing about my bipolar disorder and alcoholism since my DWI. Hopefully what I've already been doing on my own will be enough for these people to give me a reasonable service plan because I doubt I'll be able to get off scott-free.

Unless they're (expletives) they shouldn't hit me hard because of everything I've been doing on my own and because my problems ultimately stem from a mental health condition that I've been aggressively addressing.

I'm going to have pdoc write a letter for me to bring to the evaluation. She's extremely proud of me for the work I've done and I think it's important that these people know that.

My husband will have to take the day off from work to take me to the evaluation. He'll need at least a week's notice. It sucks because he'll have to take at least another 2 days off later in the process when the ball gets rolling again and I'm ready to get my license back. I'll probably end up paying the extra $350 so I can see a counselor in my area because of transportation issues. Of course I'll have to pay cab fare and the cost of the appointment unless my insurance company will pay for the substance abuse counseling, but I'll have to look into that.

I hope these people just call me when they receive word from the driving school instead of sending me a letter. If they act upon the new information quickly, I suppose I could get a letter within a week, but like BF said, the government works slowly. So, I'll still stick to my one week plan.

It's such a shame that I went from that high of being able to handle that weekend so well to quickly facing a (expletive) storm...
Maybe once the evaluation is over, I find out what kind of service plan I'm facing, and start working on it I'll feel like I'm getting closer to getting my license back again and start to feel better about things.

I'm so wound up right now. I was back to 1mg of Klonopin in the am and now I'm taking 2. And I'm at my limit because I'm taking 1mg in the afternoon as well.

My mother-in-law gave me a joint about 2mo ago for the parasthesias in my legs (which by the way have been horrible lately) . But I haven't smoked it because I don't know how it will interact with that 600mg dose of Seroquel and I haven't smoked pot in over a year...

It's been in a drawer, but it's calling my name. I'm going to skip my afternoon Klonopin and take a couple hits this evening. I'm not using my legs as an excuse, I'm just hoping it will help me relax.

Thank you for reading all of this (expletive)... all these long posts...
I just have to get it out because it's weighing so heavily on my mind. :grouphug:

We are reading, Kay.


You have doing well thinking this through.

M

Kay

Since you have thought it out so throughly, all the ins and outs.

Hopefully it will go the best it can.

Donna :hug::grouphug:

Thank you for sharing, this is a none judgemental place to share.
We are listening to you and I hope it helps to be able to vent and share.
I would think hard before using the pot...there may be a drug test required for some odd reason in the future...I really don't know about that though just a thought.
To totally change the subject...
I belong to a nutrition sight that focuses on healthy living. it is called www.sparkpeople.com . There they have many videos about yoga and relaxation tapes. Maybe you could work on relaxation stretches to focus on taking care of your body. Stress is so hard on yourself. Your body could use all of the nuruturing it can get at this point. Are you eating well? getting enough sleep. taking a relaxing bath if you enjoy that. Self care measures to sooth yourself.
Just thinking about ways you could distract your mind from these up and coming stressors.
(((((HUGS)))
bizi