DRIVING AFTER DOSING 
By: Mothers Against Medical Abuse. Org With a growing number of Methadone and addiction treatment clinics operating in our state,
specific concerns have come forth. This form of addiction therapy has greatly increased in popularity and the number of patrons seen per day can be numerous. Many admit to driving a long distance just to consume their daily dose of Methadone. Methadone is a Schedule II narcotic on the same level as Morphine, Demerol, OxyContin and others. Most hospital policies will not allow a patient to drive after receiving a narcotic from services rendered, Yet, these clinics provide early morning dosing of a highly addictive narcotic and are allowing the patron to Drive After Dosing. These clinics operate on a very, in and out, process allowing no time to closely monitor a patron for a drug induced stupor.
Many families have come forth with concerns of their loved ones who take this venture daily as
they have witnessed moments of sleepiness and events of passing out. With this being a high probability after consuming Methadone from these clinic settings it also raises a higher risk for the innocent traveler on our highways.
DUI: Driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.
Methadone clinics are often protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The safety of others on our highways must be protected just as there are attempts to protect the public from the driver consuming alcohol. Tolerance is often a defense for the clinical operators but would be difficult to verify as they do not have a waiting period to observe the patron after consumption of the drug given.
Our request for action includes:
1) Patron attending a Methadone clinic must have a designated driver before the subject is allowed to leave the premises after consuming a dose of a Schedule II narcotic, such as Methadone. Some exceptions noted below.
2) Clinic must take full responsibility for the patrons ability as to their level of tolerance of their dose consumed. Insuring the patron can properly operate a motor vehicle and that NO impairment is noted at the time of their departure.
3) Patrons assumed to have a tolerance for their dosage and are approved through the clinic to depart the facility by their own means operating a motor vehicle must wait an appropriate amount of time for monitoring purposes by trained medical staff. Documentation must state that patron showed no signs of a drug induced stupor before patron is allowed to operate a vehicle and clinic has responsibility for adequate documentation and observation upon departure of the patron from the facility.
4) Clinic must provide an escort to observe patrons required to have a designated driver. They must witness that the patron entered a vehicle operated by another person other then themselves.
5) Patrons from clinics that are consuming Schedule II narcotics must be treated in the same manner and abide by the state laws as all possible offenders of DUI/DWI as per written by the state.
The benefits to these requested changes will reduce the possibility of a motor vehicle
accident due to a persons ability to function properly and in a safe manner while driving.
This reduces the risk of possible deaths on our highways from impairment associated with the use of narcotics.
This request is intended to protect all individuals on our highways.
Mothers Against Medical Abuse. Org
2008 Version of Driving After Dosing program.
The term Driving After Dosing is a term created and used to describe a program composed and used by MAMA.org. When using any portions from this written request you must acknowledge MAMA.org as the orginator of its contents.
©2008 COPYRIGHT OF MOTHERS AGAINST MEDICAL ABUSE. All rights reserved. Use by written permission only.