Sides Weighed on Methadone Use by Drivers

The Arizona Republic

Bill amends drug's DUI-law exemption

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."