Substance Abuse Evaluation

D

dcpilot

New Member
This is for Dr. Forred. I have recently been informed by the FAA that I need to provide a current substance abuse evaluation by a professional who has had special training in diagnosis and/or treatment of addiction before I they can consider my medical renewal. This would include certified substance abuse counselors, phychologists, psychiatrists, other physicians with special training in addictive disorders, and members of ASAM. I just called the medical cert division to ask if this was the HIMS eval. , and he said no it isnt. Just get the eval from any one of those that they stated in the letter. Do you know of anyone in Riverside County or Los Angeles area that specializes in this that is familiar with what the FAA wants from them? Thanks for your help.
 
have they yet asked you? I was asked to provide a substance abuse evaluation by a certified SA counselor or addictionologist and did so...it stated I had no dependence or abuse history. The FAA CAMI then came back and asked that I take the "psychological portion only" of what is referred to as the P&P evaluations from "a psychologist familiar with aviation standards"...and that is where I am now stuck.
I think they will come back and ask you for more evaluations...just saying.
 
Dr. Forred sent me the information of a approved HIMS doc in my area, and just had to do the eval with him. I just received the great news today from the FAA that my 3rd class medical was approved. Please take Dr. Forreds' advise guys when he says to use an approved HIMS doc if they ask for a eval. Thanks Dr. for all your great advise on this forum.
 
I just finished my P&P evaluations but not with a HIMS AME...at a private, regional residential rehabilitation center. The tests were really intense btw! I had received a letter from the FAA stating I could use a local provider "familiar with aviation standards" or call them for a HIMS provider. The nearest one was over 4 hours away, couldn't see me for several weeks and would cost $200/hr just to evaluate my case to date...and then he would recommend a place for the P&P testing. So I opted for the closer, faster option, knowing these guys are really well known and recommended (think Betty Ford Clinic).
So now I am hopeful that 1. my testing turned out okay; and 2. upon submittal to the FAA CAMI office, they will let me keep my 3rd class medical...praying!!!
and I am very happy for you, getting your medical!! What a great relief (now never let it go!)
 
dcpilot said:
Dr. Forred sent me the information of a approved HIMS doc in my area, and just had to do the eval with him. I just received the great news today from the FAA that my 3rd class medical was approved. Please take Dr. Forreds' advise guys when he says to use an approved HIMS doc if they ask for a eval. Thanks Dr. for all your great advise on this forum.
Click to expand...


Congrats dcpilot. Run and never look back!


Blue skies




atp
 
bravopapa said:
I just finished my P&P evaluations but not with a HIMS AME...at a private, regional residential rehabilitation center. The tests were really intense btw! I had received a letter from the FAA stating I could use a local provider "familiar with aviation standards" or call them for a HIMS provider. The nearest one was over 4 hours away, couldn't see me for several weeks and would cost $200/hr just to evaluate my case to date...and then he would recommend a place for the P&P testing. So I opted for the closer, faster option, knowing these guys are really well known and recommended (think Betty Ford Clinic).
So now I am hopeful that 1. my testing turned out okay; and 2. upon submittal to the FAA CAMI office, they will let me keep my 3rd class medical...praying!!!
and I am very happy for you, getting your medical!! What a great relief (now never let it go!)
Click to expand...

I'm in the same boat, what ended up happening with this?
 
CarterCoulombe said:
I'm in the same boat, what ended up happening with this?
Click to expand...
Hi. It's been awhile but I finally got approval from CAMI to apply for a medical & immediately saw my AME & was issued a 3rd class in March of this year...that was almost 3 years being grounded , thousands of dollars in legal & medical fees, & intensive testing....
It started with SA counseling & education, attending AA for 2 plus years, total abstinence & UAs, then also the P&P evaluations (4 days of testing, $$), more counseling, letters of recommendation, & lots of advocacy from my AME! Dr. Forred too....I pretty much jumped thru every hoop they put out there until they really didn't have any actual guidance on where to go anymore....AOPA legal services helped a lot too.....
This was only a 3rd class medical

Good luck........
 
bravopapa said:
Hi. It's been awhile but I finally got approval from CAMI to apply for a medical & immediately saw my AME & was issued a 3rd class in March of this year...that was almost 3 years being grounded , thousands of dollars in legal & medical fees, & intensive testing....
It started with SA counseling & education, attending AA for 2 plus years, total abstinence & UAs, then also the P&P evaluations (4 days of testing, $$), more counseling, letters of recommendation, & lots of advocacy from my AME! Dr. Forred too....I pretty much jumped thru every hoop they put out there until they really didn't have any actual guidance on where to go anymore....AOPA legal services helped a lot too.....
This was only a 3rd class medical

Good luck........
Click to expand...

Damn, that's insane. I mean, I did some SA education and some AA classes, since that's what the court required, but definitely no Abstinence and UAs or P&P Evals (What are those, btw?). All the FAA CAMI wants from me is: a detailed letter from myself explaining how I got the DUI, court documents, driving abstract, and now the SAE. So I'm hoping to get the SAE and be done with it.

Not sure of the details in your case, but I had a DUI when I was 19 (now 25), and my BAC was .21 so I have to do the damn SAE. Just trying to find an affordable way to do it.
 
My Flight Surgeon said:
Los Angeles is as close as I have.
Dr Rozansky
310-477-6355

Dr Elliott
310-545-6400
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Dr. Forred, is Dr. Elliot qualified to do the evaluation, being a psychologist? The letter I got from the FAA specifically calls for a Psychiatrist. I've been trying to get an appointment with Dr. Rozansky but he is too busy.

Thanks
 
Try Dr Desch in Phoenix. Dr Elliott can do evaluations but if the letter specifically requires a psychiatrist then that is the specialty you need.
 
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