Thousands of young adults will be wrapping up their school year and coming home from college in the next month. For many, this might be there first year away, and with this newfound freedom they’ve also encountered a bit of trouble with the law. Not coincidentally, we have been experiencing an increase in the number of calls about our Minor In Possession and PC1000 classes. Unfortunately, according to the Foundation for Advanced Alcohol Responsibility, nearly 9 million 12 – 20 year olds in the U.S. have consumed alcohol in the last month. Studies also report that illicit drug use among teenagers increased from 9.3% - 10% from 2012 to 2013. These facts show that many kids are influenced by their peers or are continuing to test the waters and illegally try alcohol and/or drugs. If you have a child that has come home with a California PC1000 DEJ related offense, you might be asking yourself what this means and what to do about it?

The PC1000 diversion program is provided within California for first time offenders who have been arrested for personally possessing or using drugs in a non-violent or threatening way. For example, someone who has been caught with small quantities of marijuana, cocaine or Vicodin but is not trying to sell it might receive this offense. The court provides this opportunity to take a treatment program instead of serving jail time. The way it works is that the individual enters a guilty plea, the judge decides based on the evidence if the defendant is a candidate for this type of program and if so, will suspend any criminal proceedings for approximately 18 months to 3 years. During this time, the offender must successfully complete the program and the judge in turn dismisses the charges.

The benefit to taking this program is that the offender stays out of jail. Also, as long as the requirement is completed, the charges will be dismissed and it’s like it never happened. The offender can truthfully say that he/she has never been arrested so it won’t hamper any future employment, licensing or certification opportunities.

PC1000 programs can be found locally in-person or like the ones we offer, online. Our program is popular because it can be taken from any Internet connected computer device like a PC, Laptop, Tablet or even a Smartphone and at any time of the day or night. If all is going as planned, most students are coming home to internships or jobs and this is a more convenient way to get the requirement fulfilled without having to miss time from daily responsibilities. The good news is that the program doesn’t have to be taken in the same county that the offense happened, so they don’t have to stay up at school for the summer to get it done. Defendants can request to take a program in any county or online with prior approval from the judge. So when you go to your hearing, come prepared with information on the alternate program you are interested in having your child take. It’s always a good idea to bring information about the validity of the class as well as the course curriculum to show the judge so he can make an educated decision.

According to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, about 1 in every 12 adults suffers from alcohol abuse or dependence in the United States. Sadly, this statistic affects over 7 million children who live in homes where at least one parent is a problem drinker. To be clear, an alcohol abuser is generally defined as someone who seeks a drink compulsively and chronically uses it even though it is causing havoc to their health and in their personal and work related lives. There are different types of alcoholics, those that fit the stereotype of abusive, out of work and/or on the streets or those who are high-functioning meaning they hold down high level jobs, have families, nice homes and maintain friendships. A great number of alcoholics are in denial that they have a problem. They are able to maintain a healthy weight, exercise daily, manage a career, get places on time clean and sober and keep things looking somewhat together to the outside world. However, years of hiding the problem or having family members cover it up, often catches up. It might take a huge shake up to get the person to finally acknowledge the issue like a run in with the law because of a DUI or a disorderly conduct violation, or a breakdown at work or with personal relationships.

Most people don’t decide to stop drinking overnight. The recovery process is gradual starting with some kind of a wake up call, sometimes an intervention from friends and family and then the acknowledgement that it’s time and motivation to take ownership of the problem. If you recognize yourself as someone who is alcohol dependent and ready to make a personal change or have run into a court mandate, you may be looking for solutions to help you stop the addiction.

The first step is to get support. Tell your friends and family what you are trying to accomplish so they don’t offer you alcohol and are available for you to talk to. Group programs like AA offer encouragement and direction on how to live life alcohol free. Residential rehabilitation facilities are available all over the country.

Alcohol awareness classes either in-person or online fulfill the court mandated portion of legal issues that have arisen. They also help the alcoholic to understand more fully what they are doing to themselves physically and mentally, how it is affecting those around them and supply the techniques to use to help them overcome the abuse.

Online alcohol awareness classes are often the most cost effective and timely solution for court ordered requirements or for fulfilling job related classes for hiring purposes. Specifically, bartenders, truck drivers and school bus drivers are often required to take a class in order to be hired. To know that you are getting what you need out of the online program, look closely for a quality program that is designed by a licensed and practicing mental health provider. A huge benefit of many online programs is that you can get through them more quickly and on your own schedule, so make sure you choose one that is completely self-paced. Finally, confirm that you will receive your Certificate of Completion in time for any deadlines you are under. Keep in mind that if you finish an online class on a Friday night, the Certificate will most likely ship out the following week, not the next day. It’s helpful to choose a company that offers online access to the certificate so you can print it out on your end when you’ve successfully finished the class. Lastly, double-check with the company you are applying at, or your court system to make sure that taking the class online is okay. Keeping all this in mind when doing your research will help you find the online alcohol awareness class that best suits your needs.

Alcohol Drug Class introduces our brand new Marijuana Possession Class that can be taken completely online from anywhere in the country. If you are looking for an educational program to supplement your teen’s knowledge about drug use, or have been charged with marijuana possession, we can help you to satisfy your court, probation or school drug awareness education requirements!

You are not alone. Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug in the country. According to drugpolicy.org, roughly 750,000 people were arrested for marijuana law violations in 2012. In fact, approximately, 7.3% of Americans 12 years old and up regularly used the substance in that same year. If you are in possession of paraphernalia or one ounce or less in one of the 48 states that hasn’t legalized use, it is generally a misdemeanor charge that will require a drug class component to fulfill court requirements.

Our Marijuana Possession online classes offer many benefits for the typical busy individual:

1. No transportation necessary! You don’t need to worry about getting to a traditional classroom environment at a set time each week. Instead, you can learn from any Internet connected computer device in the comfort of your own home.

2. Convenient! Our clients set up a personal login and password so that they can utilize a computer from wherever they are in the country. This means you can use the computer at work during your lunch hour, hotel computers if you travel for business, the local library facilities, your Smartphone while sitting waiting for an appointment or even over at a friend’s house.

3. Self-Paced! Once you register, you own the class and it becomes immediately available to you 24/7. You control how quickly you get through the material. For example, you can spend the time over one weekend to complete it or spread it out each night for a couple of weeks. When you are tired or have to leave, the program holds your last spot for the next time you are ready to continue.

4. Affordable! Our pricing is competitive and in many cases lower than going to in-person classes. You also save money on gas and parking.

5. Proof of Enrollment, Progress Reports and Certificate of Completion Included! This is all the paperwork that the court generally requires. We update them as you progress through the class and you can print them out on your end.

6. Completely Private Experience! No explanations necessary as no one else needs to know that you are taking the course. You don’t need to attend a public classroom full of strangers or have to miss work, school or family functions to get to a weekly class. You can keep it quiet by taking the course on your own time and at home.

Marijuana Possession Class Online is a quality educational program designed by experts in the field. The course addresses the risks and consequences of the short-term and long-term use of the drug. This includes the health and personal issues one encounters, and legal and financial repercussions associated with abuse. Students will learn practical life skills to help reduce stress, improve communication and avoid substance abuse.

It’s that time of year again – Spring Break for millions of students across the country. After a winter of cold weather and hours of study, many students flock to beach areas to let loose and have fun. The top 5 destinations for the more than 1.5 million students that are looking for freedom from the daily constraints are:

1. Panama Beach, Florida

2. Cancun, Mexico

3. Daytona Beach, Florida

4. South Padre Island, texas

5. Colorado’s ski resorts

It’s also a time of year that can be incredibly unsafe. We’ve all seen the You Tube videos and news reports of insane parties on the beach, full of young adults binge-drinking in the hot sun. It’s especially important to remember that although initially the alcohol may make you feel relaxed and away from it all, it also has a number of negative side effects. First of all, it will impair your judgment and actions, which often leads to increased sexual assault. Furthermore, it can contribute to dehydration and dizziness. And, contributes to poor motor skills and lack of agility. An alcohol related motor vehicle crash kills someone every 31 minutes and injures someone every 2 minutes, so don’t even take a chance by getting behind the wheel!

According to Mother’s Against Drunk Drivers (MADD), teen alcohol use kills about 4,700 people each year. The Journal of American College Health says that binge drinking during this time is the norm, which in this scenario means about 18 drinks in one day for males and 10 for females. This is deadly behavior and every year we hear tragic stories about kids who die from alcohol poisoning. In one case, the teenager got to her destination and within 4 hours was so drunk, her friends just put her to bed and even checked on her, but in the morning she wasn’t breathing.

In many situations, underage drinkers are not aware of what to look for when someone is exhibiting signs of alcohol poisoning, or they are too afraid to get help. Do not hesitate to call for help immediately if someone is showing any or some of these signs. You could save a life!

1. Confusion

2. Vomiting

3. Seizures

4. Irregular or slow breathing

5. Low body temperature

6. Blue or pale skin

**If the person has passed out and cannot be awakened, don’t leave them alone to “sleep it off”. Call 911 and stay with the person in case he/she starts to vomit. Help them role on their side so they don’t choke.

So, how do parents play a role in this? Yes, your child might take the initiative and have the funds to get himself to a spring break partying destination, but a lifetime of imparting the importance of making good choices can definitely help. Have the discussion early on and over again about why drinking alcohol can be dangerous. Remind them to never accept drinks from strangers or drink from an already opened container. Tell them to stay hydrated with non-alcoholic drinks and teach them how to avoid peer pressure without making a big deal out of it. The best plan of attack is to walk around with a soft drink in a cup, so no one bothers you to begin with. Or, if the pressure starts, just respond in a natural, calm tone of voice either “no thanks”, “I already have a drink, thanks”, “I don’t like the taste, I’ll get something else” or don’t answer at all and change the subject. It’s essential to get the point across to your minor that the poor choices they make now, can last a lifetime.

In many states, anyone arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) and/or drugs must undergo an alcohol and drug evaluation so the judge can determine the sentence. The point of the assessment is to help the judge understand if the offender has a serious substance abuse or alcohol related addiction and the risk the individual poses to public safety. The judge then reviews the defendant’s driving history, the results of the evaluation with the licensed counselor during the assessment, and BAC level at the time of arrest and then sanctions the length of alcohol and drug education classes that need to be taken, status of license revocation, fines, and other driving related restrictions. The length of the court mandated alcohol and drug awareness classes generally vary from a Level 1, 8 session/hours to a Level 3, 24 sessions/hours program.

While the violation itself may not truly reflect the driver’s substance abuse problem, the screening process is used to help individuals actually get the help they need instead of just giving them jail time. In fact, federal reports show that more than 70% of criminals in the justice system have substance abuse problems. Years of research into the effects of throwing violators in jail as a punishment for DUI has shown that when the violators were released, many just went back to their old habits because they never learned new skills to change their behavior. Very little rehabilitation education is actually available in the prison environment. Therefore, the courts have wised up and now mandate alcohol and drug education classes as part of the restitution.

Common reasons that an individual would need a drug or alcohol evaluation are for legal charges, disorderly conduct, testing positive for drugs at work, for license reinstatement, for school rule violations and/or because another physician is requesting it. In some cases potential employers, like those in the trucking field, might ask for an evaluation prior to a new hire. To fulfill the requirement, individuals can go in person to treatment centers, meet one on one with a licensed provider, or utilize the option of doing the assessment over the phone or via online video with a certified substance abuse counselor.

Phone or online video DUI or alcohol/drug assessments are a quick and cost effective way of getting this part of the court mandate completed. In general, the customer purchases the evaluation online from their home computer and is then promptly contacted by the certified counselor. A convenient time for the approximately one hour evaluation is agreed upon, or done immediately without ever having to leave the comfort of your own home. Participants will answer a number of standardized questions during the interview. They also need to provide the counselor with any forms or specific documents that need to be reviewed as part of the case. Then the clinician will analyze the data and provide a written evaluation to the participant within 24 – 48 hours. Utilizing this online option is definitely more convenient and less time consuming than having to schedule an appointment and drive across town to meet with an evaluator.