I was wondering about the patients who currently take Suboxone. I practice in an area where drug abuse is epidemic. I know methadone users are disqualified but was also wondering about Suboxone. I am uncomfortable with the thought of any of these substances being taken by drivers….but also don’t want to be prejudicial. I can’t find any information on this particular substance.
FMCSA does not specifically address Suboxone (
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There lies the problem. I am not a drug abuser, nor taking Suboxone for drug abuse, but for the treatment of pain. I went the vicodin route. When it was time to get off of Vicodin, I felt horrible. I was put on a low dose of Suboxone and it helped immensely. It also worked GREAT for mild Arthritis pain.
There is NO similarity between Methadone and Suboxone. I’ve done the homework. A LOT of it. With Suboxone, there are virtually NO side affects. I forget I am even on it. Ive driven a lot of miles while on Suboxone. No accidents.
The DOT needs to review much more. They’re basing their decisions based on the stigma attached to Suboxone users rather than the medication itself. THAT is not right at all. In fact, it ridiculous! Many great drivers are getting messed over because of stigma! DOT needs to get on the ball and review hours of duty and drive time rather than spend so much time and putting the blame on medications. Drivers are having accidents because sitting at a steering wheel for 10-11 hours is mentally tiring. They dont want to admit it because theyll lose money. Pay drivers better with less duty hours. ITS THE ANSWER!!!
Greg, thanks for your thoughts here. I’m not aware of any recent studies or medical expert panel reports FMCSA has put out regarding Suboxone specifically. Although the medical examiner does have the discretion to certify a driver using narcotics, habit forming drugs, and drugs which may impair driving, the problem is that if there is an accident, it is highly likely such a drug would be cited as a causal or contributing factor. It would be very difficult for the medical examiner in this case to justify their decision and could risk their certification as a medical examiner, and could even be held liable for certifying such a driver.
You are right that fatigue is a leading contributor to crashes, and fatigue has many causes, including the effects of certain drugs like suboxone and many others.
Again, as medical examiners we are in the position of erring on the side of public safety, not as an advocate for the individual driver. I don’t disagree that there needs to be more research in this area. But until there was clinical evidence and medical expert opinion from FMCSA on the safety of such drugs in relation to crash risk, I would continue to disqualify drivers on these drugs.
I’ve been driving a truck for 14 years and never been in a accident. I also take Suboxone 1× a day which has never effected my ability to drive. I understand the worries behind it but look as a commercial driver it is safe. I don’t even think you can overdose on it.100%safe in my book..
Good to hear you have never had an accident. Suboxone is used for current treatment of narcotics/heroin addiction and as such, a driver would generally be disqualified.
I have been on Suboxone for over 10 years. For me, it is a great pain reliever. I have never been on heroin. Just took pain pills (as prescribed, of course) after being in a very bad car accident 15 years ago. It is not always for heroin addiction. This drug increases my awareness, concentration and has become almost like an antidepressant for me. I have never been diagnosed with clinical depression but it seems to make everything a little brighter since I am not in so much pain any more. I have never been sleepy or groggy in the least bit. I can’t understand why a DOT medical examiner would not let me drive under these circumstances. You say being addicted is a disqualifier. So there are NO OTHER truck drivers out there who have been addicted to something at one time or another? I don’t believe that in the least bit. If DOT wants to disqualify Suboxone, it should be on their disqualifying meds list. Some drivers are ok to drive on it; some aren’t. It all depends on which medical examiner you get. Sometimes, the carrier tells the DOT docs what they can and cannot approve as far as their drivers.
CURRENT addiction is a disqualifier. Other uses for medications may be considered by the medical examiner and aside from schedule I illicit drugs, they have discretion over whether to qualify a driver or not based on many factors – underlying condition, effects of the medication, ability to perform the job duties, etc.
there is a good review article tha addresses this topic –
ACOEM Practice Guidelines: Opioids and Safety-Sensitive Work
JOEM Volume 56, Number 7, July 2014 –
A meta study – that concludes there is a 29% increased of accident –
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“Both weak and strong opioids have been consistently associated with increased risk of motor vehicle crashes (MVC) in all large epidemiological studies of work- ing age adults sufficiently powered to detect motor vehicle crash risk with the risk estimates ranging from 29% to more than 800% increased risk.51–56 , 58–60 There also is some evidence suggestive of a dose-response relationship.51 , 55
Thanks for this valuable reference!
I agree with greg! Sit at your desk for ten or eleven hrs and then we will dim the light and lets see if u get sleepy! Been on suboxone for prob 7 years now and i challenge anyone to any driving test or reflex test. No wonder nobody wants there cdl anymore and if u can give it up your much better off! The pay aint high enough for the absolute aggravation!! Like i read somewere else all cdl holders should all at same time stop driving for 1 week ! Im in!
Thanks for your thoughts, Mark
I’ve been thinking about getting into driving trucks for a living to avoid lay offs constantly. I work in shipyard n take suboxon but its accepted out there . My question is do u tell the companies u try to hire on with that u take suboxon or not ? Oh n big r , who u work for n how do u get past ur company’s rules taking the suboxon? Thanks !
A driver withholding any medical information during their exam would be cause for disqualification. Current treatment for heroin addiction would be cause for disqualification.
i was in a pain management place for my shoulder surgery and became addicted to pain pills prescribed to me. then i went to suboxone clinic to get off suboxone and its hard to come off of. i wish i never took it and dealt with lortab withdrawals. i had my class B CDL while going to the clinic. then i moved away for a few years then when i come back to get my medical card they asked what drugs i took and i told em suboxone and they said i wasnt allowed to take any narcotics. but i had years before all legally. he said get off that before we can move forward but man that stuff is the devil. it does not get you high it just takes away your symptoms of withdrawal. i cant stand when people chime in with their 2 cents never had taken the drug. i was prescribed 8mg 2 times a day. i can take 1 mg a day. youo would think i had it kicked but its been over a year and without that 1mg im sick. on the toilet every 5 min cold sweats no energy but give me that 1 mg and im fine. not high i dont want to do any other drugs i just want a good paying job doing what ive always done. i honestly couldnt get a call back from Mcdonalds and i have an Associates degree. but my family business involves driving trucks and i cant do it because big pharma got its claws in me
You’re deciding to automatically disqualify people based on very stigmatized data is obviously only to cover your own interests especially noting you show zero interest in supporting or helping find a new and better way. That being said your candor only proves better how stigmatized people are who are simply doing the right and responsible thing. It also encourages those people to lie so they can keep their jobs to feed their families. Also what’s interesting is the fact that Doctors just like you along with deceptive greedy pharmaceutical companies played a huge part in causing this problem to begin with. Over prescribing highly addictive opioids for pain. Now it seems those same companies and doctors now further victimize those same patients
Thanks for your thoughts, John. Let me address some of them:
-automatically disqualify – Suboxone is not an “automatic disqualifier” but heroin addiction is and presumably current treatment for heroin addiction would be. It is up to the medical examiner to make the final determination.
–zero interest in … find a new and better way — not sure exactly what you mean here, but it is not the examiner’s role to make a diagnosis or prescribe any treatment for a driver, only to make a determination of the risk to public safety given an opiate addiction and the current treatment thereof.
–greedy doctors and pharmaceutical companies — I don’t disagree with this sentiment. While there are most doctors who truly wish to alleviate pain and suffering, there are far too many who “take the easy way out” when it’s time to wean narcotic use or explore alternative treatments, and some that are indeed downright greedy. I’ve personally known a few physicians (some whom I’ve fired over the years) who wound up in jail from fraudulent prescribing. And yes, pharma companies and their hard sales tactics have been deplorable.