DUI and DWI Programs in Massachusetts

What DUI or DWI program does Massachusetts require, and who approves it?

Massachusetts requires an impaired driving program licensed by the Bureau of Substance Addiction Services, and the track depends on the offense. First offenders whose case is resolved under the 24D disposition, named for Massachusetts General Laws chapter 90, section 24D, attend the Massachusetts Impaired Driving Program, formerly called Driver Alcohol Education.

People with a second offense are placed in Second Offender Aftercare or the Second Offender 14-Day Residential Program. An education program differs from clinical treatment: the impaired driving course teaches about alcohol, drugs and driving, while counseling or medication addresses an alcohol or drug use disorder itself.

A 24Q assessment is mandatory after certain alcohol-related convictions, and its result points to the care that fits, whether that is counseling once a week, several outpatient sessions a week or a live-in stay. Your probation officer or the court can tell you who performs the assessment and which office receives the result.

Completing the course won’t on its own return a suspended license; reinstatement steps and any ignition interlock condition come from the court and the state motor vehicle agency. An online course counts only if the court and licensing agency accept it, so confirm in writing with your probation officer before paying.

An education program is not the same as clinical treatment. MID teaches people about alcohol, drugs and driving. Treatment, such as counseling or medication, addresses a substance use disorder itself. Session schedules and total hours are set for each licensed track, so ask the program for the current requirements before you enroll.

Massachusetts courts can also order treatment directly. The Specialty Courts Department of the Trial Court runs Recovery Courts, which were formerly called Drug Courts, as sessions within District and Boston Municipal Courts. Providers that accept these referrals appear under court-ordered rehab in Massachusetts.

How does a 24Q assessment decide which program or treatment you need?

A 24Q assessment is mandatory under M.G.L. c.90 s.24Q for people convicted of certain alcohol-related offenses, and its result points to the care that fits. An assessment generally looks at your history of alcohol and drug use, its effect on daily life, and any past treatment. Ask the court or your probation officer who will carry out your assessment and where the result will be sent.

If the assessment recommends clinical care, the level can range from weekly outpatient counseling to an intensive outpatient program or a residential stay. Some listed providers also report medication for alcohol or opioid use disorder. Programs focused on drinking are grouped under alcohol rehab in Massachusetts.

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

Online completion of a Massachusetts impaired driving program counts only if the court and the licensing agency accept it. Each person’s requirement comes from their case, so a course sold online may not satisfy it. Confirm with your probation officer and the program, in writing if possible, before you pay for any virtual option.

Clinical treatment has clearer rules. MassHealth pays for live video and audio-only telehealth at the same rate as in-person care, under a bulletin in effect since October 2023. Providers offering remote sessions are listed under telehealth rehab in Massachusetts.

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

Education program fees and treatment costs are paid in different ways. The program usually charges its course fee directly, so ask the admissions team for the current amount and any payment plan. Treatment that an assessment recommends can often be billed to private insurance or to MassHealth, the state Medicaid program.

Under Chapter 258 of the Acts of 2014, MassHealth and state-regulated insurers must cover acute treatment services and clinical stabilization services for substance use disorder without prior authorization. MassHealth members can compare plans on the Medicaid insurance page. People without coverage can look at sliding scale programs and state-funded rehab, matched to the payment types each listing reports.

What happens after you finish the program in Massachusetts?

Finishing a Massachusetts impaired driving program does not by itself restore a driver’s license. The court and the state motor vehicle agency set reinstatement steps and any ignition interlock condition, so ask which office needs proof of completion and how it must arrive. Completion is not a promise of any change to charges, and a lawyer can explain your case.

What to bring and ask when you call

Before you call a provider, gather your court paperwork, any assessment results and your completion deadline. Ask how the program reports completion to the court, and whether sessions run in Spanish or with an interpreter. Listings that report Spanish-language services are collected under Spanish-speaking rehab in Massachusetts.

Where to get help now

Free help is available by phone, any time. The Massachusetts Substance Use Helpline answers at 800-327-5050, or you can text HOPE. You can also call or text 988, or call the national treatment referral line.

Listing details on RehabSeekers.com draw on government treatment registers, state licensing records, accreditor listings and information that providers supply about themselves, so confirm hours and services with the program directly. Other options are on the Massachusetts treatment page.