People sometimes complete an alcohol and other drug program when substance use is relevant to a current legal matter.

​

Depending on the program, documentation may be available to confirm factual information such as enrolment, participation or completion. However, the type of documentation provided varies between programs, and it is important to understand exactly what a document confirms, and what it does not.

​

An AOD program document is not automatically a clinical report, forensic assessment or recommendation to a court.

​

What types of AOD program documentation may be available?

Depending on the provider and the nature of the program, documentation may include:

• an enrolment confirmation letter

• a certificate of completion

• a participation or completion letter

• a summary of the program content completed

 

Not every program provides all of these options. Before enrolling for a legal matter, it can be useful to check what documentation is available and speak with your lawyer about what may be relevant to your circumstances.

​

What is an enrolment confirmation letter?

An enrolment confirmation letter generally confirms that a person has enrolled in a particular program.

​

Depending on the provider, it may include information such as:

• the participant's name

• the date of enrolment

• the name of the program

• the intended participation in the program

 

An enrolment letter confirms enrolment only. It does not establish that the person has participated in or completed the program, and it should not be interpreted as evidence of clinical progress, behavioural change or future risk.

​

What is a certificate of completion?

A certificate of completion confirms that the requirements set by a particular program have been completed.

​

A certificate will generally contain basic information such as the participant's name, the name of the program and confirmation of completion.

​

The meaning of "completion" will depend on how the individual program is structured.

​

A certificate of completion does not, by itself, establish that a person has stopped using alcohol or drugs, experienced a particular degree of change or achieved a particular clinical outcome.

​

What is a descriptive completion letter?

Some AOD programs may provide a more detailed letter confirming factual information about a participant's involvement.

​

Depending on the program, a descriptive letter might confirm:

• the program completed

• completion status

• relevant dates

• the modules or topics covered

• whether a certificate of completion was issued

 

The purpose of this type of letter is to provide a factual description of participation or completion.

​

Unless a separate professional assessment has been undertaken, it should not be interpreted as a clinical opinion about the participant's rehabilitation, risk, prognosis or future behaviour.

​

What information should AOD documentation not claim?

The scope of any document should reflect the service that was actually provided.

​

For example, completion of a self-directed psychoeducation program does not by itself provide a basis for conclusions about:

• whether a person is abstinent

• their likelihood of future substance use

• their risk of reoffending

• their suitability for a particular legal outcome

• their parenting capacity

• the interpretation of drug or alcohol testing

• whether they have been clinically rehabilitated

 

These types of conclusions may require a different form of professional, clinical or forensic assessment.

​

Is a completion letter the same as a psychological report?

No.

 

A descriptive AOD program completion letter generally records factual information about a person's participation in a program.

 

A psychological or forensic report may involve individual assessment, consideration of relevant history, clinical formulation and professional opinions addressing specific referral questions.

 

Completing an online psychoeducation program does not automatically involve this type of assessment.

​

It is therefore important that documentation is described accurately and that its limitations are clear.

​

Will an AOD program certificate or letter be accepted by a court?

There is no universal answer.

 

Legal matters vary, as do the requirements of individual courts, lawyers and other parties involved in a case. A program provider cannot guarantee how a certificate, letter or other document will be interpreted or whether it will be considered relevant in a particular matter.

​

Anyone considering completing an AOD program for a current legal matter should discuss their individual circumstances and documentation requirements with their lawyer before enrolling.

​

Can documentation be sent directly to a lawyer?

This will depend on the provider's procedures and privacy requirements.

​

Where personal information is being provided to a lawyer or another third party, the participant may be required to provide written consent before documentation can be released.

​

Alternatively, some programs provide documentation directly to the participant, who can then decide whether to provide it to their lawyer.

​

What should you ask before enrolling?

If documentation is important to you, it can be useful to check:

• what documentation is included with the program

• whether additional letters are available

• what information those letters contain

• whether there are additional fees

• what must be completed before documentation is issued

• whether written consent is required for information to be sent to a third party

 

You should also confirm with your lawyer whether the type of program and documentation you are considering is appropriate for your particular circumstances.

​

Documentation available through The Wagon – The Essentials

The Wagon – The Essentials is a psychologist-developed, self-paced online AOD psychoeducation program.

​

A certificate of completion is provided when the program requirements are completed. Additional descriptive documentation is also available where required.

​

An enrolment confirmation letter can confirm factual information such as the enrolment date, the program enrolled in and intended participation.

​

With the participant's written consent, a descriptive completion letter can confirm information including completion status, relevant completion details and the modules or topics covered.

​

Documentation provided by The Wagon is descriptive only. It does not provide forensic opinions, risk assessments, clinical opinions about legal matters, predictions about future behaviour or guarantees about legal outcomes.

 

The Wagon is not court-approved or court-endorsed, and there is no guarantee that its documentation will be accepted for a particular legal purpose.

​

Written by Jay Beckley, Registered Psychologist