SOBERLINK TERMS OF USE: TREATMENT
Real-time Alcohol Monitoring
Soberlink for addiction recovery will provide verification of sobriety and act as a physical and mental deterrent to
drinking. Soberlink technology is unprecedented in that Counselors and family members are able to have real-time
knowledge of sobriety via instant alerts. If drinking does occur, concerned parties can react quickly and
appropriately. The trusted Soberlink system has many benefits for the monitored Client; as well as for their loved ones
and other concerned parties.
A monitoring program is proven to:
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Hold the monitored Client accountable for their own actions and sobriety
Develop responsibility and restore trust
Reassure family members, employers, and all other concerned parties
Help the monitored Client in achieving long-term sobriety
Managing Expectations
Soberlink was created for convenient and discreet alcohol monitoring. The real-time test results will prove whether
Clients have alcohol in their system at the time of a test. It will not however detect usage after alcohol has
completely dissipated from the body. That being said, it should be understood that if a Client is motivated enough to
try to conceal small amounts of drinking, no person or technology could stop them. Soberlink testing will act as a
tangible deterrent and ensure that the Client is on the right path to recovery.
Alcohol Detection
Soberlink did not create a new way to detect alcohol. Breathalyzer fuel-cell technology has been reliably used for
decades. Soberlink uses the most trusted fuel-cell sensor available in Breathalyzer technology. Soberlink has years of
monitoring experience and has developed numerous ways to validate a drinking event. Not only is the technology
proven effective, the device has been upheld in court cases since 2011.
Alcohol Elimination Rates
Because everyone is different, there is not one universal alcohol dissipation rate. The generally accepted standard
rate of dissipation is 0.015 BrAC per hour.
People metabolize alcohol differently based on numerous variables.
Some factors that can influence a person’s BrAC are:
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Body weight
Gender
Age
Food intake
Number of drinks & alcohol content
Alcohol tolerance
Window of time in which drinks were consumed
Studies show elimination rates can vary dramatically from person to person and even from day to day.
Dr. Alan Wayne Jones, a top alcohol toxicologist & researcher, found that people generally fall into one of the below
groups:
Last Updated: July 2015
Because alcohol tends to dissipate quickly from the body, you may be tempted to require a Client to test excessively.
However, a person who has a drinking problem, or is dependent on alcohol, will be unable to control and time their
drinking in such a way that it defeats the Soberlink system.
Because of this, no more than 2-3 tests per day are necessary to ensure that a relapse is caught. In high-risk cases,
(i.e. a Client with a moderate to severe alcohol dependence problem) Soberlink should be used in conjunction with
a clinical case manager to oversee the abstinence and recovery process, rather than relying on an excessive
amount of Soberlink tests to ensure safety.
Soberlink Cellular or Soberlink Bluetooth
Soberlink Cellular uses Verizon’s cellular network to transmit test results directly to Soberlink’s monitoring web portal. A
cell module is built into the device so that no cell phone is required to send a test.
Soberlink Bluetooth was designed to pair via Bluetooth to an iPhone or iPad. Clients are able to submit test results via
Wi-Fi or cellular connection. Soberlink Bluetooth sends the test from the device to the Apple device and then on to
the Soberlink Web Portal. Soberlink Bluetooth is ideal for an iPhone user who has poor cellular reception or travels/lives
outside of the US.
Soberlink account managers can help decide which device is best in each case.
Tests Schedules
Random scheduling is typical for urine testing, but is discouraged when using Soberlink.
A Soberlink test schedule should be determined and agreed upon by both parties before beginning the monitoring
program. For best compliance, automated text message reminders inform the Client of upcoming required tests. It is
the Client’s responsibility to submit a breath test at the scheduled time regardless of if they receive a notification or
not.
Testing Schedule Example
07:00 AM
04:00 PM
10:00 PM
Client submits a Soberlink test
Client submits a Soberlink test
Client submits a Soberlink test
The most common number of tests used in continued-care programs is 2-3 per day. The schedule should be
reasonable enough to ensure the Client can adhere to it for an extended period. The two most important required
tests should be scheduled for first thing in the morning and just before the Client goes to bed.
Variable Testing Window
The Soberlink system allows you to set an amount of time before a test is considered missed or late. The test window
can be set for 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, or 4 hours. Clients can submit a test anytime within the set testing window. The
most common testing window used for Clients in continued-care programs is 2 hours.
Queuing or Storing Tests
Queuing is a feature that allows the device to store a test when outside of cellular coverage. When coverage is
restored, the device will automatically submit all stored test results to the portal.
Queuing can be challenging because it can undermine real-time test results. We recommend that Queuing be
disabled. The Client should be required to find adequate cellular coverage to submit a real-time test. Soberlink
Bluetooth is the ideal option if a Client has problems with cellular coverage because it can connect to a mobile
phone’s Wi-Fi.
Last Updated: July 2015
In the Event of Non-Compliance
The following events are considered non-compliant:
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Positive test result
Missing a scheduled test
Failing to retest after a positive test is submitted
Covering the camera when taking a test
Attempting to have anyone other than the Client blow into the device
Using an alternative air source to blow into the device
Any detected tampering
In the event of a positive test (i.e. BrAC of .01 or higher), the monitored Client will receive a retest prompt on the
device screen as well as a text message on their mobile phone. The monitored Client will then submit a confirmation
test as instructed. If the confirmation test is non-compliant, the Client will be asked to retest every 15 minutes until a
compliant test is submitted, or until 3 hours have elapsed.
A positive BrAC result will only be confirmed as a non-compliant drinking event if the Client misses the required
confirmation retest, or if the confirmation retest also results in a positive BrAC.
As part of the initial agreement, the Counselor can choose to be notified of all compliant and violation alerts, or just
of violation alerts. Further, the Counselor and loved ones can access the web portal with read-only permission so they
are able to remotely view test history.
The Counselor and Client should read and sign agreement that details testing guidelines and consequences for all
instances of non-compliant before beginning the Soberlink monitoring program.
Client Agreement / Monitoring Plan Protocol
Before using Soberlink, Clients should sign an informed consent agreement and setup a program protocol with their
Counselor. By signing these documents, all involved parties are stating they understand and agree to the terms of
their monitoring plan.
The protocol will include the following important points:
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Instructions on device use
Behaviors to avoid while testing
Testing frequency/schedule
What is required if the device is lost or damaged
Who will see test results (e.g. Counselor, loved one)
Test-result access for varying parties
Consequences of a positive test or other non-compliance
How schedule changes should be authorized
Consequences for non-compliance
Legal consequences for program violation (if applicable)
Tamper Detection
Soberlink’s innovative facial-recognition software adapts to subtle appearance changes that might occur over time.
The software automatically confirms approximately 80% of submitted photos. Soberlink will manually review any
photos that are not confirmed by the software.
If a photo is declined due to a testing behavior violation (e.g. covering the camera, attempting to have anyone
other than the Client blow into the device), the photo will be declined and the violation will be recorded.
All Soberlink devices are equipped with internal tamper-detection sensors making them very difficult to circumvent.
Each breath test passes through a sophisticated algorithm to ensure the integrity of the test and flag any
inconsistencies with human breath.
Last Updated: July 2015