If you’ve been arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) in Kentucky, you’re not the only one. In 2021, over 17,000 people in Kentucky were arrested for a DUI. After being arrested, there are a lot of things to figure out. Your license has been suspended. You have court dates and appointments. Fees are adding up. You might even be facing jail time.
Many first-time offenders of DUIs are required to take a state-approved education course, like the one we provide here at Altruism Counseling. If you have already been determined to need a DUI class, or you are still looking to have your assessment, you probably have questions. So, let’s get into how long DUI classes last and what they cover.
Your DUI class will last for a minimum of 20 hours and will be taken throughout three weekends.
The first step to getting your DUI classes done is to be assessed by a certified DUI assessor. Your assessment will determine if you need 20 hours of DUI education classes, alcohol and substance use treatment, or a combination of the two.
Once you have completed your assessment, you will know if alcohol and substance use education is the right fit for you. These classes typically start every five to six weeks. If you are also found to need treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD) and/or substance use disorder (SUD), you can begin that immediately.
This 20-hour class will typically take place on Friday evening, as well as Saturday and Sunday afternoons for two weeks. The final class is generally on a third Friday evening.
This schedule is designed to allow you to keep your normal schedule during the work week while completing your educational requirements.
If it is also determined that you need to participate in a treatment program, this may last as long as 90 days for a first offense. After your first DUI, you will typically be required to complete a treatment program.
Requirements for reinstating your license after a DUI in Kentucky include mandated alcohol or substance use treatment after the first offense:
In the state of Kentucky, the approved classes for DUI are what’s called, “Prime for Life (PRI)” classes.
PRI is a 20-hour psychoeducation course that is designed to help attendees gain an understanding of how alcohol and substance disorders develop and how you can prevent them. Other information that can help you make informed decisions when it comes to the consumption of alcohol and other substances will also be provided.
The DUI class is always led by a certified instructor. It includes media-rich presentations aimed toward prevention and was developed from over 1,800 research studies conducted over 75 years.
In addition to the instruction you receive, there will be a corresponding workbook for you to complete to ensure that you comprehend the material and can demonstrate understanding to pass the class.
Prime For Life classes are broken down into three learning units.
The first unit is intended to help you learn about the perception of personal risk. In this unit, you will learn about the difference between how you feel or think in situations when you are intoxicated, versus the reality of the situation and the dangers you may pose to yourself and others.
The second unit will cover SUD and AUD. You will have the opportunity to learn more about when the consumption of alcohol and other substances stops being casual and starts to become a use disorder. You will learn to assess the warning signs that indicate you may be experiencing alcohol or substance use disorder and identify what warning signs apply to you.
In the protection unit of your PRI class, you will learn about personal changes you can make after you’ve completed the class. You will have the opportunity to work with an instructor to develop a plan of action to utilize what you have learned throughout the class, leading to real change in your life. This will help you keep yourself and others safe.
Two major techniques will be used to teach materials in a way that will stick with you beyond your time in the classroom.
Motivational interviewing is a technique designed to help you develop a conscious awareness of why you want to make changes in your life. While these classes may be mandatory, it is important for you to feel motivated to take what you learn beyond the classroom.
Motivational interviewing does this by allowing you the opportunity to discuss the changes you want to make in terms of why they matter to you. Rather than expecting everyone to have the same approach to every situation, motivational interviewing works by giving you the autonomy to come to your understanding of how change can work in your life.
The transtheoretical model of change is essentially a model describing how individuals move through distinct stages when making a behavioral change. There are five stages of making change:
Many similar classes begin with the preparation stage and help you come up with a plan for change. However, in this program, we understand you are likely still coming to terms with the changes you need to make, and are just trying to get through the day-to-day. That’s why we believe it is important to allow you to really think about the changes you want to make before moving into the planning phase of making change.
You need to note that online DUI classes are not accepted by the state of Kentucky. While there are DUI classes online that are accepted by some states, Kentucky is not one of them. In Kentucky, all DUI services must be conducted by a certified DUI program provider and licensed Alcohol and Drug Entity (AODE). Your class must meet these conditions in order for your alcohol and substance use education to be considered completed by the state of Kentucky.
Once you have completed the required class, you are one step closer to getting your license back. While the completion of the class does not make your suspension end sooner, not completing the class may cause your suspension to be extended.
If you have completed your DUI classes as part of the requirements for your first offense, you may still need to complete additional requirements like paying your fine of $200-$500 and waiting for the end of your suspension to get your license back – which may last as long as 90 days.
Getting your life back on track after a DUI can feel overwhelming. There are a lot of things you need to get done, and the consequences can be difficult to face. That’s why it’s important to us that we provide you with affordable, accessible options for DUI classes (at some of the lowest rates in the state and additional treatment options).
At Altruism Counseling Services, we give you the support to become your best self. That’s why we offer individual counseling to help you get to the root causes of SUD in addition to group counseling. Please call us today at 859-310-6505, or connect via our contact page.
Altruism Counseling Services: Find Yourself.
