Explore Your Options With A Voluntary Recovery Program
If you have been accused of having a drug or alcohol problem or have been arrested on suspicion of a DUI or a controlled substance violation, you will receive a letter from the Professional Health Monitoring Program (PHMP) informing you that you may be eligible for participation in the Voluntary Recovery Program (VRP).
You will be requested to contact a VRP-approved evaluator, typically within seven days, to schedule an evaluation to determine if you have a drug or alcohol problem. See this sample VRP letter.
The VRP letter will provide the PHMP evaluation requirements. I am attaching the PHMP evaluation requirements.
A condition of entering the VRP is that you must agree not to accept or continue your present employment in any position requiring licensure until cleared to do so by the VRP case manager and a provider approved by the VRP. See terms and conditions for VRP participation, No. 1. What this means is that you have to stop working until you are evaluated and subsequently approved by a VRP case manager to return to work. This process could take several weeks. If you have been accused of using controlled substances, it could be months before you are allowed to return to work.
It is in your best interest to contact us immediately upon receipt of the letter from the PHMP. Do not call the PHMP to ask someone to explain the process to you; you should first consult with us.
Your initial letter will also include a personal data sheet, which is a detailed questionnaire about your drug or alcohol use. Any answers you give on this document can later be used against you. The decision to participate in the VRP should be carefully thought out and you should contact our office before you answer any questions or submit any paperwork so you know your rights and obligations.
We have found that in many cases, a licensee does not have a substance abuse or alcohol problem; therefore, the licensee should decline participation in the VRP. However, this decision should not be made without a thorough evaluation by our office.
