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ALCOHOL AND DRUGS CONFIDENTIAL DIVERSION PROGRAM
In September 2004, the Oregon Board of Dentistry instituted a Confidential Voluntary Diversion Program for licensees experiencing problems with abuse of drugs and alcohol. The Board designed the program to support licensees in recovery and at the same time establish guidelines to protect the public.
THE PROGRAM IS - - -
CONFIDENTIAL
The Board designated Harvey W. Wayson, a staff investigator, as the Diversion Coordinator. The Diversion Coordinator is the only person authorized to work with Candidates for and Licensees in the Program, and to know their identities. Mr. Wayson can be reached at 503-229-5520 between 7:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
VOLUNTARY
Licensees enter the Program voluntarily and agree to adhere to the provisions of the Voluntary Diversion Agreement. Licensees must provide the Diversion Coordinator with a full disclosure of the history of abuse, periods of treatment, efforts in recovery, and relapse history to qualify for diversion.
NON-DISCIPLINARY
The Board recognizes that addiction is primarily a biological disease, chronic, progressive, often fatal, and characterized by relapse. The Board’s Program is non-disciplinary and not reportable to the National Practitioners’ Data Bank, or any other entity.
HOW DO I GET STARTED?
By contacting the Board’s Diversion Coordinator, Harvey Wayson, either by telephone or by e-mail.
Telephone: 503-229-5520
E-Mail: Harvey.Wayson@state.or.us
HOW IT WORKS
- The Diversion Coordinator opens a case and conducts an investigation to include review of documents related to evaluations and treatment, and interviews with the Candidate and treatment providers. The Diversion Coordinator completes an investigative report in which the Candidate is identified only as “Licensee.” The Candidate reviews a draft of the report and confers with the Diversion Coordinator.
- The Chief Investigator, the Executive Director, the Board’s Chief Evaluator, and the Assistant Attorney General review the report and approve it. These reviewers do not learn the identity of the candidate.
- The Diversion Coordinator creates a Voluntary Diversion Agreement for the Licensee’s signature. With the signing, the Licensee is in the Program.
- The Diversion Coordinator presents the case to the Board for closure. The Board does not learn the identity of the Licensee.
QUESTIONS
How long is the Program?
The length of time a Licensee remains in the Program is dependent upon the progress and results of recovery efforts. The Diversion Coordinator receives regular reports from treatment providers. Completion of the Program is determined after consultations between the Licensee, the treatment providers, and the Diversion Coordinator.
What happens in the event of a relapse?
The Licensee must report any relapse to the Diversion Coordinator, who will conduct an investigation of the relapse, including an interview with the individual.
What will the Board do in the event of a relapse?
If it is determined that the relapse does not significantly jeopardize the Licensee’s recovery, does not adversely impact the integrity of the Program, and does not pose an immediate threat to the community, the Licensee can be allowed to continue in the Program. If the relapse does not meet these criteria, the case will be referred to the Board for possible disciplinary action.
Who pays the cost of the Program?
There is no cost to the Licensee to participate in the Program. The Board absorbs the administrative costs of managing the Diversion Program. The Licensee contracts apart from the Board for all evaluations, testing, treatments, and counseling and bears all of the costs of those services.
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