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Arizona Legislators Consider Banning Methadone Users from Driving
June 26, 2009

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News Summary

Arizona's state legislators debated this week the pros and cons of banning methadone users from driving, and in the end voted to amend the state's DUI law to allow methadone users to drive only if they are taking their medication as prescribed, the Arizona Republic reported June 21.

The Senate's Public Safety & Human Services Committee heard arguments from victims of a 2007 car crash in Cottonwood, in which a driver taking methadone in combination with other drugs swerved into a car carrying five high-school cheerleaders.

"Methadone should be illegal to people who abuse it," said crash victim Shantel Haught. "I don't know why they let them drive. It's just so unfair."

Medical professionals argued that methadone is safe and does not impair people unless they used it in combination with other drugs. Banning methadone users from driving also would hinder their recovery, experts testified.

The change to the DUI law was cleared by the committee and later approved by the full Senate.

COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE:

Posted by Shannon Borch on 29 Jun 09 08:16 AM EDT
To out right ban those taking methadone from driving one would have to consider all drugs that may impair driving ability-including those prescribed for anxiety, depression and other forms of pain. It would be unconstitutional to take away ones right to drive because of a medical condition. If impairment is the issue, the guidelines for abuse should be implemented just as those for alcohol are.

Posted by pwkaplan on 29 Jun 09 09:15 AM EDT
It saddens me to see one tragedy (a car accident) compounded by the need to distribute blame. In this case, there appears to be little evidence that methadone caused the accident--it was the driver's bad judgment combined with his/her use of unnamed other drugs. Including the wisdom of one of the 17 year old victims ("Methadone should be illegal to people who abuse it..."), adds little to rational discourse. The issue is impaired driving--an impaired driver should not get behind the wheel, and there should be a reasonable expectation of detection and punishment if they do. Methadone is not the issue--the issue is putting others at risk through one's own behavior.

Posted by Doug from Texas on 29 Jun 09 09:26 AM EDT
it's already is illegal to drive when you take Methadone. It's called a DUI. This should not come a shock folks. If you take enough of any drug to impair how you drive you go to jail, doesn't matter "why" your taking it.

Posted by Nurse Linda, Oklahoma on 29 Jun 09 01:58 PM EDT
Anyone who makes bad choices ad causes an accident, espcecislly an accident resuting in death or severe injury shoud be prepaired for consequences. But to legislate poor decision making is ludicrous,expensive to the taxpayer, and a major violation of basic civil rights. Continue substance abuse educatio and enforcement with the goal of a smarter public, not a more restricted public!

Posted by Verde on 29 Jun 09 03:33 PM EDT
Driving is a priviledge not a right, so it cannot be unconstitutional. If someone is using methadone, they are either under the influence or in a mental and physical state where they should not be driving period. So why not suspend their license, give them proper service so they know they are not allowed to drive? Once they have been released from their doctor then they can drive again.

Posted by jrzshor on 08 Jul 09 10:03 AM EDT
"Banning methadone users from driving also would hinder their recovery, experts testified." hinder their recovery-now that is funny.

Posted by paindoc on 22 Jul 09 04:29 PM EDT
This will disenfranchise a huge number of nonimpaired drivers from driving. All scientific evidence has shown that after five days methadone patients are indistinguishable from nonpatients. Welcome to Arizona, the land of guilty until proven innocent. If you are a chronic pain patient unable to afford morphine or OxyContin, you don't drive. Civil rights violation? Certainly.

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