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New Directions recently reached out to respected Ohio criminal defense attorney Shawn Dominy for his opinion about what to consider in choosing a DUI attorney. While Shawn practices in Ohio, most of what he shares here has practical application across the country.

If you were charged with DUI (in Ohio it’s called OVI), you only have a few days before the first court appearance; the arraignment. At the arraignment, you will be asked to plead guilty or not guilty. Before the arraignment, there are three questions you should answer for yourself. 

Getting a mental health or substance abuse assessment for court is not something most people have prior experience with. Therefore, if you need an assessment for court, it can be difficult to know what service to use.

This blog breaks down the basics of court-ordered assessments, to help you make a well-informed choice when considering your assessment service options.

So, you have spent the last month getting a fresh start at the rehab center. It’s a new beginning. You feel good. You’re cautiously optimistic and ready to get on with your new sober life. But you know battles will come. In fact, deep down you know they will come hot and heavy the first week.

Dealing with your GF or BF or difficult marriage. Your well-meaning but dysfunctional parents. Your crazy finances. Chronic physical pain, your boss, that 12-year old car that needs a transmission.

Twenty-five years of helping people with addictions have taught me that many people can successfully cut back their drinking if it starts getting out of hand. The results are a trade off – a little less alcohol buzz-time weighed against better health, money saved, more time on your hands and often higher self-esteem.

Here is a focused list of actionable ideas you can try if you would like to cut back on your drinking right now:

1. Choose Social Settings Wisely

Environmental stimuli have a lot to do with how people drink.

If a domestic court judge has ordered you to get an alcohol and drug evaluation or assessment for a child custody or visitation hearing, there are a number of important things to consider before you get your evaluation.

Most requests for an assessment come in one of three contexts:

Being ordered to get an alcohol and drug assessment can create a lot of anxiety. What if I’m labeled an alcoholic? What if the evaluator just wants to say I have a problem just so she can send me to her own treatment program? What if my report makes me look bad in court?

These are all valid concerns but there are things you can do increase the chances that you won’t be manipulated in the process.