DUI and DWI Programs in Louisiana

What DUI or DWI program does Louisiana require, and who decides which one counts?

For a first offense, Louisiana ties a suspended sentence to a substance abuse program and a driver improvement program, and the court decides which programs meet the order. Under La. R.S. 14:98.1, the substance abuse program may include an assessment by a licensed clinician, so the wording of your court order is the clearest guide to what you owe.

The two parts do different jobs. A driver improvement program is a class about driving and the law, while a substance abuse program can range from education to clinical treatment. Clinical providers are licensed by the Louisiana Department of Health’s Health Standards Section under the Behavioral Health Service Providers Licensing Standards.

Rules for a repeat offense or an underage driver, including hours, are set case by case, so confirm them with the court or your attorney rather than relying on a general figure. The court also decides whether an online course counts, so get written confirmation before paying. For more on legal referrals, see court-ordered rehab in Louisiana.

No statewide fee is published for DUI education courses in Louisiana, so ask each provider for a written price. Clinical care that an assessment points to may be paid for by a private insurer or by a Healthy Louisiana plan under Medicaid, and drivers without coverage can look at sliding-scale or state-funded options.

How does a DUI assessment decide which program or treatment you need in Louisiana?

A clinical assessment looks at how alcohol or other drugs affect your life, and its findings set the level of care the clinician recommends. A licensed clinician usually asks about drinking and drug use, past treatment, mental health and safety. The recommendation can be education alone, outpatient care, or a more structured program.

Louisiana providers listed for people referred after a DUI or DWI report several levels of care: outpatient programs, intensive outpatient programs, residential care, and medication for alcohol or opioid use disorder, including Suboxone clinics. A court can order treatment as a condition of the sentence, so return the recommendation to the court or your probation officer. Most people referred after a DUI are working on alcohol, and alcohol rehab in Louisiana covers that care in more detail.

Most of these Louisiana listings sit on low ground, at a median elevation of 60 feet, and about three in four are within 25 miles of a river, most often the Comite River.

Can you complete a DUI or DWI program online in Louisiana?

Louisiana law leaves program choice to the court, so the court decides whether an online or virtual course counts. Before paying for any online class, get written confirmation from the court or probation office.

Clinical care follows separate rules. A 2023 Louisiana Medicaid bulletin allows licensed professionals to provide assessments, individual therapy and medication management by telehealth in outpatient and intensive outpatient substance use settings. Outpatient group sessions must still be in person. Options are listed under telehealth rehab in Louisiana.

How do you pay for a DUI program or court-ordered treatment in Louisiana?

Louisiana publishes no statewide fee for DUI education courses, so ask each provider for its current price in writing. Paying for treatment works differently. Clinical care recommended by an assessment may be covered by private insurance or by Louisiana Medicaid, which expanded in 2016 and runs through the Healthy Louisiana managed care system.

The Healthy Louisiana plans for 2026 are:

• Aetna Better Health
• AmeriHealth Caritas Louisiana
• Healthy Blue
• Humana
• Louisiana Healthcare Connections

Healthy Blue is set to leave at the end of 2026. See Medicaid-accepting providers for more.

People without coverage can look for sliding scale programs or state-funded rehab in Louisiana. The Office of Behavioral Health oversees community programs run by local human services districts and authorities. Some listings also report Spanish-language services or interpreters, shown under Spanish-speaking rehab in Louisiana.

What happens after you finish the program, and how do you get your license back?

Completing the program is one step, and the court and the state motor vehicle office decide when driving privileges return. Ask the court how proof of completion must be filed, and ask both offices whether ignition interlock or other conditions apply to your case. Completion does not promise any change to the charges.

What to bring when you call a provider

Have these ready before you call:

• Your court paperwork and any assessment results
• Your completion deadline
• Your insurance or Medicaid card
• Any language needs

Ask how the provider reports completion to the court or probation office, and whether it charges a fee to send those records.

Where to get help now

The Louisiana Substance Use Helpline is 877-664-2248. The national treatment referral line can also suggest services, and 988 is available for a mental health crisis. To browse all care in the state, start from the Louisiana treatment page.