I am late to this party, no pun intended, but I'd like to share my experience and hope that this helps. I am in the HIMS program. I was inducted into the HIMS program after an impressive DUI with a .23 BAC. I didn't have a current medical at the time of my DUI as my previous one had expired after I paused my flying for 5 years. I had no prior criminal record, a clean driving record and was an upstanding citizen in a career of public safety. I knew it was going to be a long process so I went in to an AME for a third class medical so that they could defer it and get the process started. I received certified mail from the FAA requesting a personal statement, police & court records, treatment records, AA attendance meetings that were not court ordered but voluntary, Etc. I was a " social drinker" where my drinking was infrequent but binge drinking and black-outs happened frequently when I did go out. After 9 months, I received a Denial for reasoning of Substance Dependence. With what I know now, I wouldn't have gone to an AME to defer my application and would have immediately began working with a HIMS AME which would have saved me 9 valuable months.
I am a year into the HIMS program and have over 12 months of sobriety. I have my psychiatric evaluation coming up, which is the last part before my HIMS AME can complete my package and submit it to the FAA for consideration of a special issuance. I am expecting the review process to take anywhere from 9 to 12+ months to go through the review and to hear a verdict. I began working with my HIMS AME in February 2025. Initial start-up cost for my HIMS AME was $3,500. I meet with him once every 3 months (half can be virtual). My denial letter stated that a minimum of an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) must be completed, therefore I registered and completed an IOP program that met the requirements. During IOP, I was alcohol/drug tested once per week via urine sample at a lab. After completion of my IOP, I began attending the required weekly aftercare group meetings that were fortunately priced into my overall IOP program cost of $8,000. I also attended the required 90 AA/Smart Recovery meetings in my first 90 days after completing IOP. You also are expected to attend 3-4 AA meetings every week after completing your 90 meetings in 90 days after IOP or Residential Treatment. My AME also set me up with SOBERLINK where I blow into a breathalyzer twice a day (Morning/Night). The Soberlink initial start-up cost for the device was $400 with a monthly monitoring subscription of $124 per month. The FAA wants to see 6 months from completion of treatment to your HIMS neuropsychologist & HIMS psychiatrist evaluations. These are highly specialized individuals and there are not too many of them around so keep that in mind when scheduling. Between the amount of time of the FAA sending your medical records to each specialist and getting an appointment, could tack on quite a bit more time to the process. The neuropsychologist is an intense 8 hour cog-screen test and the cost was $3500. The psychiatrist evaluation cost $3500 as well.
So far I have been in the HIMS program for 12 months fulfilling daily/weekly/monthly requirements and expect another 9 to 12+ months before hearing if I get a special issuance or if further monitoring/proof is required. It has cost me $20,388 out of pocket up to this point, which will continue to accrue through the years as once you are deemed substance dependent by the FAA, you are in the HIMS program for the rest of your flying life. There is a step-down plan that reduces the monitoring requirements/costs associated with said monitoring requirements but you are a lifer in the program and must remain sober from all alcohol and mind-altering substances for the rest of your flying life.
You must fully commit to the program and a life of sobriety because if you don't, the FAA and the HIMS specialists will see right through your BS and you will waste your time and money. In fact these specialists are so busy with committed individuals that if they don't feel that you are fully committed they will not even entertain working with you. You must fully accept the fact that you are in the program for a reason and the quicker that you accept it and open up your mind the more pleasant it becomes. Who knows, you may even realize you needed it.... Alcohol Use Disorder comes in all shapes & Sizes. Good luck to anyone that finds themselves in this situation. I am thankful for the chance to regain my flying privileges and I'll never take it for granted again.
