New Bill Addresses Methadone DUI

Tchort

Tchort

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KPHO

6/19/2009

PHOENIX -- A bill banning the abuse of methadone while driving cleared its first hurdle on its way to the Arizona Senate floor on Wednesday morning.

Sen. Jim Waring said he introduced SB 1003 after watching a 5 Investigates report on driving under the influence of methadone.

Methadone is a cheap, long-lasting narcotic commonly used to treat heroin addicts. An average dose -- between 10 and 300 milligrams -- is comparable to 10-300 Vicodin tablets, experts said.

Proponents of the bill who testified at the committee hearing Wednesday were several Cottonwood girls who were nearly killed when a man crashed his pickup truck into their car.

Nevertheless, a number of people opposed the bill, including several methadone users who said it had changed their life.

"If I don't have methadone, I'll use heroin," Danny Ferrel said. "I've never had an accident. I drive every day."

Medical experts also argued that the drug does not affect a person's ability to function.

"It's legal. It's safe," said Dr. George Stavros. "It's not a drug of abuse. It's not used for that."

Physician's assistant Rick Christenson agreed.

"Methadone is an incredibly effective medication," he said. "People stabilize rapidly on it. If you're a racecar driver, you can drive a race car on it. If you're a surgeon, you can do surgery on it."

In the end, five senators voted in favor of the bill, one against it, and one senator did not vote.

Though the bill which passed banned using methadone while driving, senators said they will probably add an amendment before it goes to the Senate floor.

The amendment would let people drive under the influence of the drug if it's used as prescribed; if a driver has more than his or her prescribed amount in his or her system, he or she can receive a DUI citation.
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http://www.kpho.com/news/19792792/detail.html
 
I am very troubled by this. It is a persecution of Methadone maintenance patients, it has nothing to do with public safety. Methadone is one of the most heavily studied medications, specifically when it comes to MMT. Opponents searched for any excuse to stop America's first Opiate Replacement Therapy since the Morphine clinics of the '20s. They couldn't find anything. There is no correlation between Methadone maintenance patients and DUI-esque car crashes.

This is a direct assault on ORT.

Senator John McCain of Arizona co-sponsored a bill to ban Federal funding of Methadone maintenance clinics- which would effectively end MMT in large swaths of the country: and those hit the hardest would be the homeless, working poor, etc who cannot afford to attend a for-profit MMT clinic and rely on the free Federal clinics.

Statements on Addiction Free Treatment Act (S. 423)
by Senator John McCain (R-AZ), author of S. 423
*S. 423 is not the resolution discussed in the February issue
Editor's Note: In these statements, Senator McCain is referring to a bill he has proposed (S. 423) that would place severe restrictions and limits on Medicaid coverage and other federal funding of methadone and LAAM maintenance treatment programs. In effect, this bill would virtually eliminate any federal funding, subsidies, or Medicaid reimbursements for methadone and LAAM maintenance—the most effective treatments currently available for opiate addiction.

Mr. McCain is apparently either ignorant of or chooses to ignore overwhelming evidence from the past three decades that methadone maintenance treatment is extremely safe and effective, and is not "transferring] addiction from one narcotic to another." His assertion that methadone maintenance treatment patients are addicted to methadone flies in the face of modern medicine and is insulting not only to methadone maintenance treatment patients but to other patients who depend upon medication to treat a medical condition (e.g.: chronic pain patients on opioid medications to control pain, and epilepsy patients on phenobarbital to control seizures).

In spite of Senator McCain's supposed concern for "the scourge of heroin addiction," his bill would result in a far greater number of former heroin addicts returning to active addiction and far fewer heroin addicts entering and remaining in drug treatment. If Senator McCain really were interested in reducing the rate of heroin and other drug addiction, he would propose legislation to make drug treatment available on demand, regardless of ability to pay. Currently, drug treatment in general and methadone and LAAM maintenance treatment, in particular, is only available to a fraction of those who need it, and this bill would only further reduce the availability of drug treatment. McCain states:

Mr. President, today I am introducing the Addiction Free Treatment Act which reforms our nation's drug policy regarding the treatment of heroin addiction.
This bill would restrict Medicaid reimbursements and funding through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration for methadone and LAAM maintenance programs. Maintenance programs would be limited to six months. This bill requires that such programs conduct regular drug testing, report all results, and terminate methadone treatment to any patient testing positive for any illegal drugs. The legislation directs the National Institute of Drug Abuse to study the methods and effectiveness of nonpharmacological and methadone-to- abstinence heroin rehabilitation programs and requires the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment to provide an annual report to Congress on the relative effectiveness of heroin treatment programs in achieving freedom from chemical dependency.
Methadone maintenance programs simply transfer addiction from one narcotic to another. The methadone patient is every bit as dependent on methadone as he or she was with heroin. Patients who attempt to free themselves from their addiction to methadone experience withdrawal symptoms that are as violent, if not more than, those they would experience coming off of heroin. What is more, even the promise of freedom from illegal drug use is an illusion. For many methadone patients regularly test positive for other illegal drugs. And yet, for some 30 years, the only hope that U.S. policy has offered to our citizens addicted to heroin is an Orwellian addiction swap.

In the 105th Congress, I, along with Senator Coats and Senator Coverdell, introduced a Senate Resolution addressing the topic of methadone treatment. The resolution was a response to an emerging Clinton Administration policy designed to dramatically increase the federal government's activities in the area of methadone treatment. Barry McCaffrey, the so-called Drug Czar, proposed that ONDCP would double the number of heroin addicts in methadone treatment. Mr. President, this sounds less like the policy of a Drug Czar, and more like the policy of a drug bazaar—a bazaar where the federal government trades places with the street dealer, swapping heroin for methadone and feeding the addiction with taxpayer dollars.

This is disgusting and it is immoral. It does serious harm to the humanity of those people who have mustered the courage to walk into a clinic seeking help to free themselves from addiction. It is the ultimate in cruel irony that our government's first response should be to trade the shackles of heroin for the shackles of methadone.

Dr. Woodson puts it this way: `In contrast with psychiatric therapy and treatment that relies on medication, the goal of grassroots programs is not rehabilitation but transformation. Their end is not to modify behavior but to engender a change in the values and vision of the people they work with which will, in turn affect behavior . . . they do not simply curb deviant behavior but offer something more—a fulfilling life that eclipses the power of temptation.'

These community-based institutions possess certain common characteristics that can serve as a model for all who seek to address the challenges of addiction:

1) Their programs are open to all comers. Often, these programs take the worst cases, the long-term, homeless addicts that the `system' has abandoned as hopeless.

2) They have the same zip code as the people they serve. They do their work in the same neighborhoods, on the same streets as the addicts they serve. Reverend McPherson points out one of the pleasant benefits of Ready, Willing and Able: When they come into a neighborhood, the drug dealers go away. They leave because there is an unwritten code. If these guys are trying to get off of heroin, the dealers go somewhere else, taking their trade out of sight of the very addicts they have enslaved.

3) Their approach is flexible to the needs of the individual. The many behavioral, social/environmental, and physical challenges that contribute to drug addiction are unique to each individual. These organizations develop individualized programs for each individual.

4) They contain a central element of reciprocity. As Dr. Woodson says: `They do not practice blind charity but require something in return from the individuals they serve.'

5) Clear behavioral guidelines and discipline are critical.

6) These healers fulfill the role of parent, providing authority and structure, but also love and support.

7) They are committed for the long haul, not just for the duration of funding.

8) They are on-call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for as long as the participant needs them.

9) The healing offers immersion in an environment of care and mutual support with a community of individuals who are trying to accomplish the same changes in their lives.

10) They are united in their cause, providing mutual support in their struggles, and celebration in their accomplishments.

These concepts are not new. But combined and sustained, they offer hope and success in freeing the addict from a life of chemical dependency. That freedom should be the policy of the United States Government, and the relentlessly pursued goal of everyone concerned with the scourge of heroin addiction. End McCain's Stmt.
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http://www.methadonetoday.org/v4_n05.htm

This is simply another installment of the Arizona Republican establishment attempting to stop or at least severely hinder ORT. Can't stop the treatment from being given? Harrass those being treated.
 
Medical experts also argued that the drug does not affect a person's ability to function.

"It's legal. It's safe," said Dr. George Stavros. "It's not a drug of abuse. It's not used for that."

Physician's assistant Rick Christenson agreed.

"Methadone is an incredibly effective medication," he said. "People stabilize rapidly on it. If you're a racecar driver, you can drive a race car on it. If you're a surgeon, you can do surgery on it."

In the end, five senators voted in favor of the bill, one against it, and one senator did not vote.
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Logical conclusion. 8)


I wonder if McCain's wife used OST?
 
phrozen said:
Logical conclusion. 8)


I wonder if McCain's wife used OST?
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Shit I bet she has a permission slip from the Surgeon General to slam the beta-endorphin out of Mexican immigrant brains.

I wouldn't be surprised if she never detoxed, and is currently being illegally maintained by a private doctor on whatever narcotic she wants.

But, you know, those people can't be given narcotics. What with the rap music and all...
 
It really is amazing... despite expert witness that methadone is safe... these piece of shit bastard politicians pass the bill anyways just 'because'.... they felt like it.... I guess... because they had no rational or logical basis to pass the bill.

Wow.

Chris
 
This has been going on for almost 60 years. Prohibitionists, religious extremists (lobbyists and politicians), Republicans, etc have been trying to destroy MMT like they destroyed the well run and effective Morphine maintenance clinics of the 1920's.
 
I'm not familiar with AZ laws, but doesn't it seem likely they already could prosecute impaired driving under existing DUI laws?

The amendment would let people drive under the influence of the drug if it's used as prescribed; if a driver has more than his or her prescribed amount in his or her system, he or she can receive a DUI citation.
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And you can't if they're prescribed .25mg xanax daily but have 20mg in them? I guess the issue here is that they don't have to prove impairment?
 
The only accomplishment of this bill would be increased harrassment of MMT patients- i.e. giving LEO a new reason/justification to target MMT patients.

Old timers and MMT patients in certain areas/cities relate often how police set up shop near their clinic, and spend all morning/hours of operation pulling over MMT patients coming to or leaving the clinic- for seatbelt violations, 'reckless driving', 'suspected DUI', broken tailights, failure to signal, etc.

It all comes back to the idea that prescribing maintenance doses of narcotics to a narcotics addict is inherently 'wrong'.

To me this 'exception' is meant for pain patients prescribed Methadone- not MMT patients.

Keep in mind that blood serum levels of Methadone are much higher than the actual daily dose- due to the long half-life and tissue storage. A patient prescribed 100mg a day probably has a standing blood serum level equal to 150mg- I wonder if this little tidbit will be enough to convict MMT patients; as the level in their bodies will be higher than the prescribed amount by a matter of physiology.
 
Good point. Even if it wasn't enough getting a suitable expert witness would likely be expensive.
 
Anyone taking methadone would likely have high resistance to opiods so it shouldn't be a big problem driving with it in your system. When i did maintenance I went to the clinic then drove a hour to work 5 days a week and never had any problems
 
Tchort said:
It all comes back to the idea that prescribing maintenance doses of narcotics to a narcotics addict is inherently 'wrong'.
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Absolutely, and logic and facts and evidence and experts mean nothing in the face of how it feels. We often get lost thinking we can sway people with logic but with such a deep and visceral reaction there is no hope. You might as well try to convince the KKK that their stance is illogical.


And if MMT patients can't drive then they can't go to the clinic period, so pass this law and they are once again "criminals" and can be harassed at will by police.
Wait six months and the local news station can do an expose on the blatant law breaking going on at the local clinic with footage of all the patients parking and going in. They can frame it as this sick private run clinic doesn't care about doped up addicts running down school children and breaking the LAW, all they care about is profit!
Won't someone think of the children!

=D
 
Whoa! Jesusfuckingchrist they're for real?

This would seriously undermine the medical community. Legislation like this could be the end of all discretion in prescribing.

What the fuck is going on? Can we at least drop this charade of "liberty & justice for all" then?
 
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Update

6/21/2009

The Arizona Republic

By Glen Creno

An effort to bar people who take methadone from driving kicked up a dispute at the state Capitol last week as legislators weighed the arguments of young women hurt in a car crash by an impaired driver against medical professionals who said methadone is safe.

The driver in the crash was taking methadone and other drugs. Methadone is prescribed for treating dependence and withdrawal of narcotics and to treat severe pain. Senate Bill 1003 proposed removing methadone's exemption in the state's DUI laws.

It was prompted by a crash in Cottonwood in 2007. The driver of the pickup was convicted last year of swerving into oncoming traffic and hitting the car carrying five high-school cheerleaders. He said in court he broke the rules of his methadone treatment by taking other drugs.
The bill got out of the Senate Public Safety & Human Services Committee after an emotional hearing. Shantel Haught, who was driving the car, said she has had three surgeries since the crash and still suffers pain and migraine headaches.

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

Medical professionals said methadone is safe and doesn't cause impairment unless used with other drugs. They said the driving ban would hurt people in drug treatment trying to pull their lives together.

Danny Farrell, 61, of Tempe, said methadone keeps him from a relapse into heroin addiction and crime that does with it.

"The only thing that keeps me out of prison is methadone," he said. "If I don't have methadone, I'll use heroin."

The bill cleared the committee when sponsor Sen. Jim Waring, R-Phoenix, agreed that it could be amended later on the Senate floor. It was, on Friday, and the amended bill was approved by the full Senate. The bill now allows driving by people as long as they are taking the medication as prescribed.

Caysha McCormack, who also was a passenger in the car, said after the committee hearing that she was pleased the bill moved ahead. "I'm happy it passed, but I think more needs to be done," she said.

Emily Jenkins, president and chief executive of the Arizona Council of Human Service Providers, opposed the bill in the committee hearing. She said the amendment made it more acceptable but asked whether it would set up a costly testing system where it would be expensive to a defendant to prove they were taking the drug as prescribed.

"I really feel this bill is not necessary," she said. "If someone is impaired by illegal drugs, it will show up in their blood levels."
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http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarep...009/06/21/20090621politics-methadone0621.html
 
I wonder if these politicians would have gave a fuck if this guy ran his car into a car filled with a poor black family instead of a car full of cheerleaders.
 
"Methadone should be illegal to people who abuse it," she said.
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i wasn't aware methadone was legal to abuse... i'd love to see a study comparing the dangers of drivers under the influence of methadone vs. drivers under the influence of stupidity.
 
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