Screening

You’ve Been Told You Need an Arizona DUI Screening. Now What?

You already have enough going on after a DUI. Then someone tells you:

“You need a screening.”

Are they going to interrogate you? Drug test you? Decide you're an alcoholic? Automatically send you to treatment?

No.

So, what IS it?

It's an assessment designed to answer one question:

What, if any, alcohol or drug education or treatment is appropriate for you?

For an Arizona MVD-ordered screening, you'll have a face-to-face interview with a qualified behavioral-health professional or technician. MVD says it generally lasts 30 minutes to 3 hours and includes at least one standardized alcohol/substance-use assessment.

Arizona MVD Screening and Counseling Resources

Expect questions about you, not just the night of your DUI.

The goal is to gather enough information to make an appropriate recommendation. The standardized assessment helps identify whether alcohol or other substance use may be a concern.

Your best strategy?

Be honest. Trying to figure out the “right” answers defeats the purpose of the screening. “But they already took my blood. Doesn’t that count?”

No.

A blood, breath or urine test asks:

What was in your body?

A DUI screening asks:

Does your overall assessment indicate a need for education or treatment?

Arizona MVD specifically states that lab results alone do not satisfy the screening requirement. “Does this mean I’m automatically going to treatment?”

Not automatically.

The screening helps determine what education or treatment, if any, is appropriate. If treatment is required, MVD currently describes DUI treatment as 16 hours of education plus at least 20 hours of group counseling.

And forget what happened to your neighbor, cousin or coworker.

Their requirements aren't necessarily yours.

Your screening results, court orders, MVD requirements and circumstances matter.

Before you schedule...

Before paying, make sure the provider is approved for your specific MVD requirement. Not every therapist or substance-use counselor is.

MVD recommends bringing an updated extended Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) to your screening. Keep copies of everything and schedule early.

Already completed a court-ordered screening?

The court and MVD may have different requirements, so check what your case requires. And remember: a DUI screening isn’t another trial. It’s an assessment—not a judgment of who you are.

Go in prepared. Be honest. Ask questions. Understand what's being recommended. Keep your paperwork. Then find out exactly what you need to do next.

You can't change the night that brought you here.

But you can take care of what's required, learn something from it, and keep moving forward. At the Crossroads Therapy

Accountability without humiliation. Treatment without judgment.

Educational information only; not legal advice. Arizona court and MVD requirements vary by case.