If a court or your assessment referred you to “ADIS,” you're being asked to complete Alcohol and Drug Information School — a one-day educational class, not a treatment program. This guide covers what the class involves, who has to take it, and the mistake that costs people real money: enrolling in a class Washington courts won't accept.
What is ADIS?
Alcohol and Drug Information School is a state-regulated educational class — established in Washington law (RCW 46.61.5056) and delivered by Department of Health–certified agencies — covering how alcohol and other drugs affect the body, driving, and decision-making, along with the legal consequences of impaired driving. It typically runs about eight hours and includes discussion, video, and written material. There's no therapy and no ongoing commitment — you attend, participate, and receive a certificate of completion.
Who is required to take it
ADIS is most often required when a DUI assessment finds no significant substance use problem. In that case the court usually orders education instead of treatment — and ADIS is that education (RCW 46.61.5056). Courts also order ADIS-style education in some other alcohol- and drug-related cases; your court order and referral spell out exactly what applies to you.
Why the class you pick matters
This is the part that trips people up: Washington courts and the Department of Licensing generally require ADIS to be completed through an agency certified by the Washington State Department of Health. Generic online “alcohol awareness” classes sold by out-of-state websites often are not certified — and a certificate the court rejects means paying and sitting through it twice. Before enrolling anywhere, confirm the provider is a Washington-certified agency — our guide to taking ADIS online explains how to tell a legitimate telehealth class from a certificate mill. And don't confuse ADIS with the Victim Impact Panel — many cases require both.
What to expect on class day
- Plan for a full day (about eight hours, with breaks)
- Bring photo ID and any court paperwork or referral
- Participation is expected — it's a class, not a lecture to sleep through
- You'll receive a completion certificate for the court, your attorney, or the Department of Licensing
ADIS vs. treatment: which do I need?
You don't choose — the assessment does. If your evaluation recommends education only, ADIS satisfies it. If it recommends treatment, ADIS alone won't — you'd complete outpatient treatment or IOP instead. If you haven't had an assessment yet, that's the first step, and it determines everything after it.
Taking ADIS with us
Never 2 Late Recovery is a licensed behavioral health agency in Lakewood, and we offer ADIS along with the assessments that lead to it — so if you need both, you can do everything in one place and we'll send the completion documentation wherever it needs to go. Call (253) 279-7992 or use our contact page to ask about upcoming class dates.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Requirements vary by court, county, and case — confirm the specifics with your attorney or the court.