5 Alcohol and Drug Misuse and Dependence - DVLA Guide
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Page 1 of 6 View this article online at: patient.info/doctor/5-alcohol-and-drug-misuse-and-dependence-dvla-guide 5 Alcohol and Drug Misuse and Dependence - DVLA Guide The 'At a glance guide' is produced by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DLVA) and is a guide for medical professionals to help them with enquiries from the public about driving with various conditions. The applicant or licence holder must notify DVLA unless stated otherwise in the text. Alcohol Problems
Page 2 of 6
ALCOHOL PROBLEMS GROUP 1 ENTITLEMENT GROUP 2 ENTITLEMENT
ODL - CAR, M/CYCLE VOC - LGV / PCV (LORRY/BUS)
ALCOHOL MISUSE ALCOHOL MISUSE ALCOHOL MISUSE
There is no single definition Persistent alcohol misuse, confirmed by Persistent alcohol misuse, confirmed by
which embraces all the medical enquiry and/or by evidence of medical enquiry and/or by evidence of
variables in this condition but otherwise unexplained abnormal blood otherwise unexplained abnormal blood
the following is offered as a markers, requires licence revocation or markers, requires revocation or refusal of a
guide: refusal until a minimum six month period of vocational licence until at least a one year
controlled drinking or abstinence has been period of abstinence or controlled drinking
"Astate which because of attained, with normalisation of blood has been attained, with normalisation of
consumption of alcohol, parameters. blood parameters.
causes disturbance of
behaviour, related disease or Patient to seek advice from medical or other Patient to seek advice from medical or other
other consequences, likely to sources during the period off the road. sources during the period off the road.
cause the patient, his/her family
or society harm now, or in the
future, and which may or may
not be associated with
dependence."
Reference to ICD10 F10.1 is
relevant
ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE
"Acluster of behavioural,
cognitive and physiological
phenomena that develop after ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE
repeated alcohol use and ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE
which include a strong desire Vocational licensing will not be granted where
to take alcohol, difficulties in Alcohol dependence, confirmed by medical there is a history of alcohol dependence
controlling its use, persistence enquiry, requires licence revocation or refusal within the past three years.
in its use despite harmful until a one year period free from alcohol
consequences, with evidence problems has been attained. Abstinence will
of increased tolerance and normally be required, with normalisation of
sometimes a physical blood parameters, if relevant.
withdrawal state."
Indicators may include a history
of withdrawal symptoms, of
tolerance, of detoxification(s)
and/or alcohol related fits.
LICENCE RESTORATION LICENCE RESTORATION
Reference to ICD10 F10.2 -
F10.7 inclusive is relevant.
Will require satisfactory medical reports from Will require satisfactory medical reports from
own doctor(s) and may require independent own doctor(s) and may require independent
medical examination and blood tests, medical examination and blood tests,
arranged by DVLA. Consultant support/referral arranged by DVLA. Consultant support/referral
may be necessary. may be necessary.
See also under "Alcohol related seizure(s) See also under "Alcohol related seizure(s)
below". below".
Alcohol Related Seizure(s) Following a solitary alcohol-related seizure, a Following a solitary alcohol-related seizure, aPage 3 of 6
licence will be revoked or refused for a licence will be revoked or refused for a
Seizures associated with minimum six month period from the date of minimum five year period from the date of the
alcohol are not considered the event. Should however the seizure have event.
provoked for licensing occurred on a background of alcohol the
purposes. standards for such conditions will need to be Licence restoration thereafter requires:
satisfied before a new application can be
considered. Where more than one seizure No underlying cerebral structural
has occurred, the Epilepsy Regulations will abnormality.
apply. (See Appendix to Neuro Chapter for full Off anti-epileptic medication for at
details.) least 5 years.
Maintained abstinence from
Medical enquiry will be required before licence alcohol if previously dependent.
restoration to confirm appropriate period free Review by an addiction specialist
from persistent alcohol misuse and/or & neurological opinion.
dependence. Independent medical
assessment with blood analysis and
consultant reports will normally be necessary. Where more than one seizure has occurred or
there is an underlying cerebral structural
abnormality, the Vocational Epilepsy
Regulations apply. (See Appendix to Neuro
Chapter for full details.)
ALCOHOL RELATED Driving should cease. Licence to be Licence to be refused/revoked.
DISORDERS refused/revoked until there is satisfactory
eg hepatic cirrhosis with neuro- recovery and is able to satisfy all other relevant
psychiatric impairment, medical standards.
psychosis.
Alcohol Appendix
HIGH RISK OFFENDER SCHEME for drivers convicted of certain drink/driving offences; and meeting any of the
following:
(a) One disqualification for driving, or being in charge of a vehicle, when the level of alcohol in the body equalled
or exceeded:
(i) 87.5 microgrammes per 100 millilitres of breath, or
(ii) 200 milligrammes per 100 millilitres of blood, or
(iii) 267.5 milligrammes per 100 millilitres of urine.
(b) Two disqualifications within the space of ten years for drinking and driving, or being in charge of a vehicle
whilst under the influence of alcohol.
(c) One disqualification for refusing/failing to supply a specimen for analysis.
(d) One disqualification for refusing to give permission for a laboratory test of a specimen of blood.
The DVLA will be notified of such offenders by the courts. When an application for licence re-instatement is
made, an independent medical examination will be conducted, which includes a questionnaire, serum CDT
assay and may include further assessments as indicated. If favourable, a 'Till 70' licence is restored for Group I
and a recommendation can be made regarding the issue of a Group 2 licence.
If a High Risk Offender has a previous history of alcohol dependence or persistent misuse, but has a satisfactory
examination and blood tests, a short period licence is issued for ordinary and vocational entitlement but
dependent on their ability to meet the standard as specified.Page 4 of 6 A High Risk Offender found to have current history of alcohol misuse/dependence and/or unexplained abnormal blood test analysis will have the application refused. Drug Misuse and Dependence
Page 5 of 6
DRUG MISUSE AND GROUP 1 ENTITLEMENT GROUP 2 ENTITLEMENT
DEPENDENCE ODL - CAR, M/CYCLE VOC - LGV / PCV (LORRY/BUS)
Reference to ICD10 F10.1-F10.7
inclusive is relevant.
Cannabis Persistent use of or dependence on these Persistent use of or dependence on these
Amphetamines (note: substances, confirmed by medical enquiry, substances will lead to refusal or revocation
Metamphetamines below) will lead to licence refusal or revocation until a of a vocational licence for a minimum one
Ecstasy minimum six month period free of such use year period free of such use has been
Ketamine has been attained. For Ketamine misuse, 6 attained. Independent medical assessment
& other psychoactive months off driving, drug-free, is required, and and urine screen arranged by DVLA, will
substances, including LSD 12 months in the case of dependence. normally be required.
and Hallucinogens Independent medical assessment and urine
screen arranged by DVLA, may be required.
Heroin Persistent use of, or dependence on these Persistent use of, or dependence on these
Morphine substances, confirmed by medical enquiry, substances, will require revocation or refusal
Methadone* will lead to licence refusal or revocation until a of a vocational licence until a minimum three
Cocaine minimum one year period free of such use year period free of such use has been
Methamphetamine has been attained. Independent medical attained. Independent medical assessment
assessment and urine screen arranged by and urine screen arranged by DVLA, will
DVLA, may be required. In addition favourable normally be required. In addition favourable
Consultant or Specialist report may be Consultant or Specialist report will be
required on reapplication. required before relicensing.
* Applicants or drivers complying fully with a *Applicants or drivers complying fully with a
Consultant supervised oral Methadone Consultant supervised oral Methadone
maintenance programme may be licensed, maintenance programme may be considered
subject to favourable assessment and, for an annual review licence once a minimum
normally, annual medical review. Applicants or three year period of stability on the
drivers on an oral buprenorphine programme maintenance programme has been
may be considered applying the same criteria. established, with favourable random urine
There should be no evidence of continuing tests and assessment. Expert Panel advice
use of other substances, including cannabis. will be required in each case.
Benzodiazepines Persistent misuse of, or dependence on Persistent misuse of, or dependence on
these substances, confirmed by medical these substances, will require revocation or
The non-prescribed use of enquiry, will lead to licence refusal or refusal of a vocational licence for a minimum
these drugs and/or the use of revocation until a minimum one year period three year period. Independent medical
supra-therapeutic dosage, free of such use has been attained. assessment and urine screen arranged by
whether in a substance Independent medical assessment and urine DVLAwill normally be required. In addition
withdrawal/maintenance screen arranged by DVLAmay be required. In favourable Consultant or Specialist report will
programme or otherwise, addition favourable Consultant or Specialist be required before relicensing.
constitutes report may be required on reapplication.
misuse/dependence for
licensing purposes.
The prescribed use of these
drugs as therapeutic doses
(BNF), without evidence of
impairment, does not amount
to misuse/dependence for
licencing purposes (although
clinically dependence may
exist.
Multiple substance misuse and/or dependence - including misuse with alcohol - is incompatible with licensing fitness.
Seizure(s) associated with Following a solitary seizure associated with Following a solitary seizure associated with
drug misuse/dependence drug misuse or dependence a licence will be drug misuse or dependence, a licence will be
refused or revoked for a minimum six months revoked or refused for a minimum five year
Seizures associated with drug period from the date of the event. Should period from the date of the event.
misuse/dependence are not however the seizure have occurred on a Licence restoration thereafter requires:
considered provoked for background of substance misuse or
licensing purposes dependence, the standards for such No underlying cerebral structurallicensing purposes No underlying cerebralPage 6 of 6
structural
conditions will need to be satisfied before a abnormality.
new application can be considered. Where Off anti-epileptic medication for at
more than one seizure has occurred, the least 5 years.
Epilepsy Regulations apply. (See Appendix to Maintained abstinence from drugs
Neuro Chapter for full details.) if previously dependent.
Review by an addiction specialist
Medical enquiry will be required before licence & neurological opinion.
restoration to confirm appropriate period free
from persistent drug misuse and/or
dependence. Independent medical Where more than one seizure has occurred
assessment with urine analysis and or there is an underlying cerebral structural
consultant reports will normally be necessary. abnormality, the Vocational Epilepsy
Regulations apply. (See Appendix to Neuro
Chapter for full details.)
NB: Aperson who has been re-licensed following persistent drug misuse or dependence must be
advised as part of their after-care that if their condition recurs they should cease driving and notify
DVLAMedical Branch.
© Crown copyright. Reproduced under the terms of the Open Government Licence.
Disclaimer: This article is for information only and should not be used for the diagnosis or treatment of medical
conditions. EMIS has used all reasonable care in compiling the information but make no warranty as to its
accuracy. Consult a doctor or other health care professional for diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions.
For details see our conditions.
© Crown copyright. Reproduced under the terms of the Open Government Licence.
Original Author: Current Version: Peer Reviewer:
DVLA DVLA DVLA
Document ID: Last Checked:
13234 (v4) 16/04/2014
View this article online at: patient.info/doctor/5-alcohol-and-drug-misuse-and-dependence-dvla-guide
Discuss 5 Alcohol and Drug Misuse and Dependence - DVLA Guide and find more trusted resources at Patient.
© EMIS Group plc - all rights reserved.You can also read
