"Dig drivers violate law: Methadone prohibited by federal drug rules" - Boston Herald

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An article forwarded on by a commercially licenses truck driver slash board member slash Methadone Maintainer. What do you think? Should truck drivers and other licensed professionals be prohibited from doing their job if taking Methadone?

http://news.bostonherald.com/localRe...=101688&format=

A trucker hauling stone for a Big Dig contractor spotted getting doses of the heroin crave-reducing drug methadone before work was violating federal law, officials said.

Federal laws that govern commercial driver licenses ban operating under the influence of controlled substances but make exceptions for prescribed drugs that will not adversely affect the driver's ability to safely operate." The law explicitly says that the exception does not include methadone - a controversial narcotic prescribed by doctors to treat heroin and OxyContin addicts.

"It's a violation of federal law," Registry of Motor Vehicles spokeswoman Amie O'Hearn said of driving a truck on methadone.

CDL licenses are required for vehicles over 26,000 pounds or that carry hazardous materials or more than 16 people.

The Herald reported this week that many Big Dig workers hit the methadone clinic before heading to the job site. Among them was a trucker for Camdele Trucking spotted getting methadone several mornings before hauling stone in an 18-wheeler for Aggregate Industries, a company that supplies the Big Dig with concrete. Aggregate spokeswoman ancy Sterling said Camdele officials are responsible for the driver. Camdele officials did not return a call.

"It is not an Aggregate Industries Northeast employee nor is it our vehicle," Sterling said of the driver. "AINE expects all of our vendors to comply with every relevant ederal regulation."

Aggregate has already come under fire from Attorney General Tom Reilly and federal officials for allegedly supplying the $14.6 billion project with poor-quality cement and shoddy record-keeping.
Big Dig spokesman Doug Hanchett said vendors such as Aggregate and their subcontractors are responsible for policing their own drivers.

"The vendors that send us supplies, we're not responsible for the actions of their employees," Hanchett said. He added that the Big Dig tests heavy equipment operators and mployees in accordance with federal law.

The safety record on the project is exemplary," Hanchett said
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Stephanie Almeida
Community Organizer
Somerville Cares About Prevention
617-828-9184