Evaluation Process

The Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health (DSAMH) oversees Delaware’s DUI Education and Treatment Programs for individuals required to complete services due to a violation of Delaware’s Driving While Intoxicated law. The process begins with a DUI Screening and Referral, conducted by DSAMH’s Treatment Access Center (TASC) through the DUI Referral Services (DRS) program.

How to Contact DRS

Phone: 302-421-7330 Email: DSAMH_DUI_DRS@delaware.gov

In-Person Locations:

Treatment Access Center – Wilmington - 3821 Lancaster Ave. 2nd Fl, Wilmington, DE 19805 (302) 421-7330

Treatment Access Center – Dover - 640 S Queen St., Dover, DE 19904 - (302) 741-2950

Treatment Access Center – Georgetown - 21309 Berlin Road, Suite 7, Georgetown, DE 19947 - (302)-854-0010

Have These Items Ready

• Date of DUI arrest
• Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) reading
• DUI ticket number or court order/case number

Screening Information

• Screenings are completed via telehealth or in person (upon request).
• DUI screenings and referrals are free of charge.
• The screening identifies the appropriate referral pathway for each individual.

After the Screening

• Holcomb Behavioral Health
• Coras Wellness & Behavioral Health
• Brandywine Counseling & Community Services

For questions or concerns about DUI Rehabilitation Programs in Delaware, contact: DHSS_DSAMH_DUI@Delaware.gov or visit: https://dhss.delaware.gov/DSAMH/DUI/

DUI Treatment Services

To initiate the process, the individual must contact DRS to be screened and subsequently be referred to either DUI Education or DUI Treatment. The three screening results for the DUI Program are either:

1. 16 hours of DUI education
2. 16 hours of DUI treatment
3. 27 hours of DUI extended (intensive) treatment

During the screening process, the individual is presented with a choice of all Delaware DUI provider agencies and their locations. The participant selects one education provider and one treatment provider of their choice. Once referred to either education or treatment, the participant must enroll with the selected DUI provider agency.

To enroll in education or treatment, the participant completes intake/orientation with the DUI provider agency to which they were referred and completes all requirements of that program.

The use of Telehealth (virtual platforms such as Zoom, Teams, Google Meet etc.):

DUI screening conducted by DRS may be completed virtually.

DUI education activities may be conducted virtually. It is recommended that, at minimum, the orientation session is conducted in person to allow for exchange of paperwork and review and acknowledgement of program expectations and policies.

DUI treatment and extended (intensive) treatment activities should be ideally conducted in person. All providers must be able to offer in person participation in treatment programming to all active participants. Virtual options must be driven by participant’s treatment needs, not by provider’s needs or convenience and shall not be used as an attractive perk of the program. It is highly recommended to begin treatment for all participants in person for the first few weeks of the program, then evaluate appropriateness of virtual treatment thereafter.

Education Program

• Education class - $400.00
• Absence or Missed appointment - $50.00
• Reinstating after dismissal fee - $50.00
• Program transfer - $50.00
• Urine drug screens - $35.00
• Out-of-state Case Management/Processing Fee- $150.00
• Material fee - $50.00

DUI Treatment

• Program fee - $1000.00 16-hour treatment program
• Absence or Missed appointment - $50.00
• Reinstating after dismissal fee - $50.00
• Program transfer - $50.00
• Urine drug screens - $35.00
• Out-of-state Case Management/Processing Fee- $150.00
• Material fee - $50.00

DUI Extended (Intensive Outpatient Treatment)

• Program fee - $1,700.00 27-hour treatment program
• Absence or Missed appointment - $50.00
• Reinstating after dismissal fee - $50.00
• Program transfer - $50.00
• Urine drug screens - $35.00
• Out-of-state Case Management/Processing Fee- $150.00
• Material fee - $50.00

Outpatient 21 and Under

Youth – DRS must refer a participant younger than 18 years of age to a treatment program approved by the Department of Services for Children, Youth, and Their Families. Information is available by calling the prevention helpline: 302-633-2680 which is staffed Monday-Friday 8am-4:30pm or emailing the prevention mailbox PBHS_Prevention_Inquiries@delaware.gov.

Special Provisions

Mental health or medical conditions – Whenever a participant’s screening report indicates co-occurring mental health and/or medical conditions, DRS must provide the participant with a referral to appropriate services in addition to referral to the appropriate DUI level of care.

Out-of-State participants

Out-of-state participants follow the same process for DUI Program completion as in-state participants. Nonresidents are required to contact DRS to initiate their DUI Program in Delaware. DRS will process all necessary paperwork for out-of-state participants and schedule a screening appointment. After DRS screening is completed for an out-of-state participant, the participant will be referred to a selected Delaware DUI education or treatment provider (depending on their DRS results). Out-of-state participants will be directed to contact their Delaware DUI provider for further steps.

Outpatient Treatment

Full-service Outpatient Treatment programs offer a full range of treatment services to chemically dependent clients. The major goal of each agency is to provide services that will alter the progression of substance abuse. The standard program consists of a combination of individual and group counseling sessions over a course of approximately 3 months (25 hours). The treatment approach is based on the premise that people can make responsible decisions if they have good information and are aware of alternative solutions. All services are provided by professionals and are confidential.