It is not an automatic conclusion that because you have been charged with Michigan OWI you have a substance abuse problem.
Regardless of whether you do or don't have a substance abuse problem, the courts are required by law to sentence Michigan OWI convicts to at least some form of substance abuse education or treatment. An experienced Michigan OWI defense attorney will interview you and help you determine whether substance abuse treatment is in your best interest and in the best interest of your case.
Oftentimes, the event of a Michigan OWI arrest causes an individual to assess the role that alcohol or substances are playing in their life. A well-qualified Michigan OWI defense attorney will have a network of psychological and substance abuse treatment professionals that he can refer you to. In many cases, the courts will look very favorably upon a defendant who is proactively seeking treatment for a substance abuse issue. Conversely, in some instances, the court will have a negative view of defendants who have done nothing to treat a substance abuse problem between their arrest date and the time of their court hearings. A treatment professional can help you to develop a plan to address a substance abuse problem. Being able to show a credible treatment plan to the court at a later date is frequently very helpful. There is no situation in which seeking treatment is held against the defendant by the court. Seeking treatment is not an admission of guilt.
Many individuals believe that they must drink every single day in order to have an alcohol problem. This is not true. Others believe that because they have a home, a car, a job, good credit, etc. they cannot have a substance abuse problem. This too is not true. A qualified substance abuse treatment professional will work with you to determine what level, if any, of treatment you may need. Treatment can include in-patient hospitalization, an outpatient education classes, individualized counseling sessions and/or participation in Narcotics or Alcoholics Anonymous. In some cases the treatment professional may determine that there is no substance abuse problem and treatment is not indicated.
If you have been charged with a Michigan OWI you need to take the allegation seriously. Attorney Richard I. Lippitt has the experience and knowledge that is required to confront your case. Mr. Lippitt employs a vast network of scientific and blood experts who can potentially challenge your Michigan OWI arrest. Additionally, Mr. Lippitt possesses the legal scholarship necessary to develop potential constitutional challenges of your Michigan OWI arrest.
Michigan OWI defense attorney Richard I. Lippitt is highly skilled and experienced in investigating and challenging the facts and circumstances of Michigan OWI arrests. Mr. Lippitt appears in Michigan courts over 350 times each year in defense of Michigan OWIs.
Attorney Richard I. Lippitt stands ready to provide you with a free, no-obligation meeting regarding your case. Please call (248) 921-7164 or request a Free Case Evaluation via the form on this page.
