New Law: Medication-Assisted Treatment for DWI Second or Subsequent Offenses

Effective August 1st, 2020, the Louisiana legislature added Louisiana Revised Statutes 14:98.5.1 to the mass of laws governing the potential penalties for those convicted of Driving While Intoxicated. This particular statute allows a court to order a person convicted of a second or higher offense of driving while intoxicated to undergo an assessment to determine whether a diagnosis of alcohol or drug dependence is appropriate in keeping with the diagnostic criteria of the most recent Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) published by the American Psychiatric Association. This assessment must be paid for by the person convicted. The assessment must consider whether the individual would benefit from a court-approved, FDA-approved, medication-assisted treatment program.

After the assessment, the court may refer the person to a rehabilitation center that offers the approved medication and treatments.

If you or someone you know is facing DWI charges, call us at (318) 459-9111 to set up a consult.