If you or your co-parent are struggling with alcohol or substance abuse issues, this is a significant issue to your family and your case. You must speak with your lawyer about these concerns, whether you think you will be accused of having a problem or if your co-parent has a problem.
There are legal presumptions that come into play with drug or alcohol related convictions and judges take these issues very seriously. But there are options.
If you are being accused of being an addict, you may want to proactively get tested, with regularity, to demonstrate your sobriety affirmatively. If your co parent is an addict, we may need to file a motion to request drug or alcohol testing. These options are important to consider, after a discussion with your legal team, as they can have a significant impact on the outcome of your case.
Here are some facilities in Arizona that provide drug and alcohol testing services:
1. Any Lab Test Now
- Locations: Multiple locations in the Phoenix area, including Scottsdale, Mesa, and Chandler.
- Services: Offers a variety of drug and alcohol tests, including urine, hair follicle, and breath alcohol testing.
- Specialty: They cater to both individuals and companies, providing same-day results in many cases.
- Website: Any Lab Test Now
2. ARCpoint Labs
- Locations: Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Tucson.
- Services: Drug testing (urine, saliva, hair, and blood), alcohol testing, and random drug testing for court and employer compliance.
- Website: ARCpoint Labs
3. LabCorp
- Locations: Statewide in Arizona with locations in Phoenix, Mesa, Glendale, and other major cities.
- Services: LabCorp offers a wide range of drug and alcohol testing, including pre-employment, court-ordered testing, and personal tests.
- Website: LabCorp
4. Sonora Quest Laboratories
- Locations: Throughout Arizona, including Phoenix, Tucson, and Flagstaff.
- Services: Offers drug screenings, including DOT (Department of Transportation) testing, blood alcohol tests, and employer drug testing programs.
- Website: Sonora Quest Laboratories
5. Test Smartly Labs
- Locations: Phoenix, Mesa, and Tempe.
- Services: Provides comprehensive drug and alcohol testing services, including hair follicle, urine, and instant drug testing. They also offer DNA testing and wellness checks.
- Website: Test Smartly Labs
6. TASC (Treatment Assessment Screening Center)
- Locations: Multiple locations across Arizona, including Phoenix and Tucson.
- Services: Offers comprehensive drug and alcohol testing services for individuals involved in court-ordered programs, including continuous alcohol monitoring (SCRAM).
- Website: TASC
These facilities provide reliable testing for individuals or court-ordered cases, ensuring accurate and timely results. If you need more specialized services like random drug testing or monitoring, it is best to contact these labs directly for their specific protocols.
Alcohol monitoring is another option for parents.
Alcohol monitoring involves using devices that track and measure alcohol consumption over a specific period. These devices are typically used in legal and custody situations where an individual needs to prove their sobriety consistently. Alcohol monitoring can help ensure that individuals abstain from alcohol, and the results are often sent in real-time to relevant parties such as courts, family members, or co-parents. These devices are commonly used in child custody cases where one parent has a history of substance abuse and must demonstrate ongoing sobriety to maintain or regain parenting time.
Soberlink
- What it is: Soberlink is a portable breathalyzer device that uses facial recognition and wireless technology to verify the identity of the user and record their Blood Alcohol Content (BAC). It sends real-time results to a secure web portal that can be accessed by authorized parties such as co-parents, attorneys, or the court.
- How it helps: Soberlink provides daily monitoring to ensure that the individual remains sober during designated times, like before and during parenting time. By submitting regular, verified tests, it can demonstrate sobriety and help parents maintain or gain custody rights. This system can also serve as evidence in custody disputes, showing that the parent is taking active steps toward maintaining sobriety.
BACtrack
- What it is: BACtrack offers personal and professional breathalyzers, including mobile devices that connect to smartphones. Some BACtrack devices provide continuous alcohol monitoring (e.g., BACtrack View), which allows users to remotely submit their BAC results.
- How it helps: BACtrack can be used similarly to Soberlink to monitor alcohol consumption, especially in child custody cases where proving sobriety is required. The device syncs with an app, and results can be shared with a pre -selected group, such as family members or the court, to verify sobriety.
- The device syncs with an app, and results can be shared with a pre-selected group, such as family members or the court, to verify sobriety.
How These Devices Help Parents
Both Soberlink and BACtrack play crucial roles in custody cases involving substance abuse. By providing real-time, verified results, these tools can:
- Prove Sobriety Consistently: Parents required to demonstrate they are alcohol-free can submit regular tests as proof of sobriety, helping them retain or regain visitation rights.
- Support Parenting Time: Courts or co-parents may have concerns about one parent’s ability to care for their children safely. Alcohol monitoring devices like Soberlink can offer reassurance by verifying the parent’s sobriety during their parenting time.
- Provide Accountability: These devices reduce conflict and build trust between co-parents by providing transparent, indisputable results.
- Show Compliance: If sobriety is court-ordered, consistent monitoring demonstrates the parent’s commitment to compliance, which can improve their standing in custody disputes.
Here are some general support resources available near Phoenix, Arizona, for individuals struggling with substance abuse or those helping family members in need:
1. Terros Health
- What it offers: Terros Health provides a range of behavioral health services, including substance abuse treatment. They offer both outpatient programs and residential treatment options. Services also include counseling, recovery coaching, and medication-assisted treatment (MAT).
- Location: Multiple locations throughout Phoenix.
- Website: Terros Health
2. Community Bridges, Inc. (CBI)
- What it offers: CBI provides a variety of substance use and mental health services, including crisis stabilization, detoxification, residential treatment, outpatient services, and peer support. They also offer services for family members affected by addiction.
- Location: Multiple locations in Phoenix and throughout Arizona.
- Website: Community Bridges, Inc.
3. The River Source
- What it offers: The River Source is a comprehensive addiction treatment center offering holistic and medical detox, residential inpatient services, and family therapy. They also provide long-term treatment planning and aftercare support.
- Location: Arizona City and Mesa.
- Website: The River Source
4. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) – Phoenix Area
- What it offers: AA provides peer-led support groups for individuals struggling with alcohol dependency. Meetings are available daily throughout the Phoenix metro area, and they are anonymous and open to anyone seeking help with alcohol addiction.
- Location: Various locations throughout Phoenix.
- Website: AA Phoenix
5. Narcotics Anonymous (NA) – Phoenix Area
- What it offers: NA offers peer support groups for individuals struggling with drug addiction. Meetings are available throughout the Phoenix area, and the program follows a 12-step model similar to AA.
- Location: Various locations throughout Phoenix.
- Website: NA Phoenix
6. Al-Anon and Alateen
- What it offers: Al-Anon provides support for family members and friends of individuals struggling with alcohol addiction. Alateen is a version of Al-Anon specifically for young people affected by someone else’s drinking. Meetings are available throughout the Phoenix area.
- Location: Various locations in Phoenix.
- Website: Al-Anon Phoenix
7. Arizona Department of Health Services – Substance Abuse Resources
- What it offers: The Arizona Department of Health Services provides information about state-wide substance abuse programs, including prevention, treatment, and recovery services. They offer a resource locator tool to help families and individuals find treatment centers nearby.
- Location: Statewide.
- Website: AZDHS Substance Abuse Services
8. Families Anonymous
- What it offers: Families Anonymous is a support group for relatives and friends concerned about the drug or alcohol abuse of a loved one. Meetings follow a 12-step model, and they offer both in-person and online meetings.
- Location: Various locations and virtual meetings.
- Website: Families Anonymous
These resources provide a range of services from professional treatment to peer support, helping individuals and families navigate substance abuse and recovery.
