Abstract

We compared the motor vehicle driving records of 104 former heroin users during 1 year of heroin use before admission to methadone maintenance with their records during 1 year after admission while they were maintained on methadone. We found a statistically significant increase in convictions for speeding from the year on heroin to the year on methadone, but no significant change in convictions for negligent collision, other moving violations, driving without a license, and in accidents. The results suggest that heroin users have slightly better driving records on heroin than they do on methadone, possibly because on heroin they drive with special care to avoid arrest. The frequency with which our subjects were involved in accidents did not differ significantly from that of all Texas licensed drivers. On the basis of this study we recommend no restriction of the driving privilege of persons maintained on methadone.