(1) "Approved substance abuse/dependency monitoring program" or "approved monitoring program" is a program the board has determined meets the requirements of the law and rules established by the board according to the Washington Administrative Code which enters into a contract with podiatric practitioners who have substance abuse/dependency problems. The approved substance abuse monitoring program oversees compliance of the podiatric practitioner's recovery activities as required by the board. Substance abuse monitoring programs may provide evaluation and/or treatment to participating podiatric practitioners.

(2) "Impaired podiatric practitioner" means a podiatric physician and surgeon who is unable to practice podiatric medicine and surgery with judgment, skill, competence, or safety due to chemical dependence/substance abuse.

(3) "Contract" is a comprehensive, structured agreement between the recovering podiatric practitioner and the approved monitoring program wherein the podiatric practitioner consents to comply with the monitoring program and the required components for the podiatric practitioner's recovery activity.

(4) "Approved treatment facility" is a facility approved by the bureau of alcohol and substance abuse, department of social and health services.

(5) "Chemical dependence/substance abuse" means an illness/condition which involves the inappropriate use of alcohol and/or other drugs to a degree that such use interferes in the functional life of the licensee, as manifested by personal, family, physical, emotional, occupational (professional services), legal, or spiritual problems.

(6) "Drug" means a chemical substance alone or in combination with other drugs, including alcohol.

(7) "Aftercare/continuing care" means that period of time after intensive treatment that provides the podiatric practitioner and the podiatric practitioner's family with group, or individualized counseling sessions, discussions with other families, ongoing contact and participation in self-help groups, and ongoing continued support of treatment program staff.

(8) "Podiatric practitioner support group" is a group of podiatric practitioners and/or other health care professionals meeting regularly to support the recovery of its members. The group provides a confidential setting with a trained and experienced facilitator in which participants may safely discuss drug diversion, licensure issues, return to work, and other professional issues related to recovery.

(9) "Twelve-step groups" are groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, and related organizations based on a philosophy of anonymity, belief in a power greater than oneself, peer group association, and self-help.

(10) "Random drug screens" are laboratory tests to detect the presence of drugs of abuse or dependency in body fluids which are performed at irregular intervals not known in advance by the person to be tested. The collection of the body fluids must be observed by a treatment or health care professional or other board or monitoring program-approved observer.

(11) "Recovering" means that a chemically dependent podiatric practitioner is in compliance with a treatment plan of rehabilitation in accordance with criteria established by an approved treatment facility and an approved substance abuse monitoring program.

(12) "Rehabilitation" means the process of restoring a chemically dependent podiatric practitioner to a level of professional performance consistent with public health and safety.

(13) "Reinstatement" means the process whereby a recovering podiatric practitioner is permitted to resume the practice of podiatric medicine and surgery.