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.

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

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. In addition to looking at these sites, it is advisable to contact the embassy of the country you will be visiting to check whether you need an import license 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. You should also ask your doctor for an explanatory letter in case any problems do arise at customs.

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 500mg of methadone into Britain without a license.

It is possible to bring more than 500mg 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 no simple answer to this question. 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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