1. Do I need to inform the DVLA if I am on a maintenance script and wish to continue to drive?

DVLA: The Road Traffic Act 1988 requires that a holder of a licence is required to inform the DVLA of any medical condition which may affect their ability to drive (s94 RTA). A medical condition refers also to ‘the persistent misuse of drugs, or alcohol, whether or not such misuse amounts to dependency’ (s92 RTA 1988). As such, the DVLA needs to be informed of substitute prescribing therapies which result from persistent drug use. It is an offence to fail to provide such information.

The DVLA guidelines advise that applicants or drivers complying with a Consultant supervised methadone or subutex script may be licensed, subject to favourable assessment and, normally, annual medical review (Group 1 requirements).

If applying for a Group 2 entitlement the same criteria as as above apply subject to an initial 3 year period of stability on the programme.

Guidance for GPs can be found here: DVLA_Substance_Misuse.pdf

2. I am going on holiday outside the UK. Can I take my methadone with me?

There are several aspects of travel that you need to be aware of. These include the export regulations. The regulations of the country that you're travelling to. The regulations of the plane company that's carrying you. And finally, the policies of the doctor or clinic that's treating you.

You can carry up to three months' supply of controlled medication without having to apply for an export licence from the UK http://drugs.homeoffice.gov.uk/drugs-laws/licensing/personal/.  However, you need to be carrying a letter from your prescribing doctor or keyworker containing the following information: 
• Your name 
• Your address 
• Your date of birth 
• The outward and return dates of your travel 
• The country/countries you are visiting 
• A list of the drugs you are carrying, including dosages and total amounts 

Holiday prescriptions are provided at the discretion of the prescribing doctor. Although most doctors/clinics are very reasonable about this and will generally be helpful in arranging holiday scripts, it varies from clinic to clinic. If you are travelling within the UK, some clinics will insist that you arrange daily pickups or supervised consumption in the area that you're visiting. Some may refuse to prescribe if you wish to travel abroad.  Whatever the policy, almost all clinics need notice to arrange a holiday script. It's best to give them at least two weeks notice in order to arrange it.

The best sites to give you details of import/export laws on methadone can be found at http://www.indro-online.de/travel.htm and http://www.ac-company.org/menu1.html. Because the policies of countries can change very quickly, it is important to contact the embassy of the country you will be visiting to check whether you need an import licence and whether there are limits on how much methadone you can import. 

If you find that it is legal to import your prescription, pill form is preferable to liquid from a purely practical point of view because liquid can be lost through breakage. In addition to this, air carriers from the UK limit passengers to a maximum of 300ml of liquid in hand luggage. If you are prescribed methadone mixture and will need to carry more than 300ml, you may need to discuss changing to tablets for the duration of your holiday with your doctor. Drugs should be carried in the original packaging, in carry-on hand luggage, subject to the carrier's regulations.

3. I am visiting Britain. Can I bring my methadone with me or is it possible to get guest dosing?

You can bring up to three months' worth of medication into Britain without a license http://drugs.homeoffice.gov.uk/drugs-laws/licensing/personal/.  However, you need to be carrying a letter from your prescribing doctor or keyworker containing the following information: 

• Your name 
• Your address 
• Your date of birth 
• The outward and return dates of your travel 
• The country/countries you are visiting 
• List the drugs you are carrying, including dosages and total amounts 

It is possible to bring more than three months' worth of medication into Britain but you (or your doctor) must arrange a licence with the Home Office Drugs Branch, who can be contacted on:

Guest dosing on the NHS is problematic because waiting lists to join methadone programmes are long. It must be prearranged with a doctor, who would need to speak to your doctor. In addition to this, there are often constraints placed on guest dosing (supervised consumption, daily pick-up etc). The most important thing is not to turn up here hoping that something will fall into place.

It is often easier to arrange for a private clinic to prescribe for you than to get a prescription on the NHS. For information on private clinics please email us on .

4. Questions relating to discharge, dosage and supervised consumption:

Each case is individual and there is often no simple answer to these questions. We firmly believe in the right of people to be directly involved in all decisions relating to their care and will provide support to those who feel that their needs are not being met. Contact the Alliance’s helpline for information and advice on how to proceed.

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