It is illegal to drive under the
influence of drugs.
From March 2015 you can be
tested at the side of the road for
the following drugs:
•Cannabis
(tetrahydrocannabinol, THC)
•Cocaine
• Morphine / Heroin /
methadone
•Ketamine
•Amphetamine
• Benzo’s – for example,
Diazepam, Temazepam,
Lorazepam Clonazepam,
Oxazepam, Flunitrazepam
(bear in mind many of these
hang around in your system
for a long time)
Please remember:
When commencing Methadone or
Buprenorphine or having increases in doses
your body is still getting used to the drugs
and you are not safe to drive. You must
not drive until you are on a stable dose
and have informed the DVLA.
If you test positive for illicit or
unprescribed drugs during treatment you
should not be driving.
Driving and alcohol /
drug use – what you
need to know
If you are undertaking a community detox
you may not be fit to drive.
If you have been advised not to drive and
to inform the DVLA but have not done so,
health professionals, including NRP staff,
have a duty to inform the DVLA.
If you are found to be positive
for any of these you will be
breaking the law unless you can
prove both of the following:
1. That you are prescribed
these drugs
2. That your driving was not
impaired
Email: [email protected] or call
PALS Freephone 0800 279 7257
If you would like this leaflet in
large print, audio, Braille,
alternative format or a different
language, please contact PALS and
we will do our best to help.
If you are under the influence of alcohol or
drugs while driving you are a risk to other
people on the road, to your passengers and
also to yourself.
At Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust we
are fully committed to fulfilling our duties
under the Equality Act (2010).
Review: August 2017
Code: 15/036
© 2015 NHS NSFT. GFX3874
Illicit drugs and
prescription-only
drugs you are
not prescribed
Telephone: 0300 7900 227
www.norfolkrecoverypartnership.org.uk
@NRPartnership
NorfolkRecoveryPartnership
Please do not drive
to or from appointments
with our service if you are
under the influence of alcohol
or drugs.
If you do, we have a duty, both legally
and for the safety of others, to prevent
you driving away. This would often
require the involvement
of the police.
Be aware that some substances can take
several hours to be cleared from the body. If
you have a heavy night drinking, even if you
feel ok the next morning, it may still be
affecting your driving and you may still be
above the legal limit. There is no legal limit for
illicit drugs (including prescription only drugs
you have taken but are not prescribed). If they
are still in your system you are breaking the
law and putting others in danger.
Individuals, families and
communities in Norfolk can live
free from the harms of alcohol and drugs.
Below is some information about the driving regulations.
For further information go to:
https://www.gov.uk/current-medical-guidelines-dvlaguidance-for-professionals-conditions-a-to-c#how-to-
Methadone
and Subutex
(Buprenorphine)
use-this-guide
After that, as long as your
driving is not impaired, you may
be allowed to continue to drive
but will need to:
Most of the information below applies to Group1,
that is, normal cars and motorcycles. Some
additional information is provided for Group 2;
for example, goods vehicles etc. If you have an
HGV licence check the DVLA site.
Alcohol
(Non dependant)
Alcohol
(Dependant)
If you are caught driving while
under the influence of alcohol
your licence may be revoked for
six months or more. Repeated
offences will lead to longer
periods without your licence.
Restoration of licence will
require medical reports and
bloods tests.
If you are prescribed these drugs
as part of your treatment you
will need to let the DVLA and
your insurance company know.
1. Be providing negative drug
screens (negative for all illicit
substances, including
cannabis)
2. Have a favourable specialist
report and,
3. Normally, annual medical
review
Illicit drugs and
prescription-only
drugs you are
not prescribed
You are not safe to drive at any
time of the day or night.
Group 2 - you will need to be
in treatment for three years
with negative urines, even then
an expert panel will be required
to assess the suitability of
renewing your licence.
You should notify the DVLA.
Your licence may be restored
after one year free of alcohol
problems (three years for Group
2). Restoration will require
satisfactory medical reports
from your own GP and may
require independent medical
examination and blood tests,
arranged by the DVLA.
Consultant support / referral
may be necessary.
Using these drugs, if you are
not in treatment, will lead to
losing your licence. Your licence
may be restored once you have
been abstinent for a minimum
one year period (three years
for group 2). This needs to be
confirmed by independent
medical assessment, urine
screens and a favourable
specialist report may be required
on re-application.