Med Card And Drug Testing.

I have been taking suboxone for a while now and it has saved my life. I have read that only certain doctors will certify you when you take suboxone. Even though it is prescribed to me. My question is this. If I am able to find a doctor to certify me. What obstacles will I run across after that? I know trucking companies also give drug tests. If it shows up on their test. Will it go down as a failed test or what? I no I don't want a failed test on my record. Also, I plan on trying to go to a company sponsored class, because I can't afford it on my own.

Country I can't say for sure what will happen. You may find an examiner who will certify you. But that really doesn't matter, The company you are trying to hire on with may not allow it regardless. Most companies will want you to medically qualify with one of their approved examiners. Doing this on your own might prove to be waste of time and money. You might want to put a hold on that for a bit.

My suggestion is to start applying to Paid CDL Training Programs and disclose that your are prescribed Suboxone by your Doctor. Be prepared to have your Doctor write a note on official letterhead stating that this will not affect or inhibit your ability to operate a CMV. I think you should (if you haven't already) talk with your Doctor who prescribed the medication and discuss your intentions to become a truck driver.

You should spend some time on the FMCSA's website reviewing the banned substances lists. Keep in mind Suboxone is a narcotic...most of these are forbidden. There are exceptions though, hopefully that will be the case for you.

Good luck.

This is a Drug you will need to be off of. I am glad that it worked for you but you will need a release from a Doctor that prescribed it for you. That he is no longer prescribing it and you are no longer taking it.

If I can just get in the door and start driving. I have all the confidence in the world that I'll be off of it by next year recertification, but with thd type of work i do right now. There is no way in heck I can come off of it. It is way to physically demanding.

Country I can't say for sure what will happen. You may find an examiner who will certify you. But that really doesn't matter, The company you are trying to hire on with may not allow it regardless. Most companies will want you to medically qualify with one of their approved examiners. Doing this on your own might prove to be waste of time and money. You might want to put a hold on that for a bit.

My suggestion is to start applying to Paid CDL Training Programs and disclose that your are prescribed Suboxone by your Doctor. Be prepared to have your Doctor write a note on official letterhead stating that this will not affect or inhibit your ability to operate a CMV. I think you should (if you haven't already) talk with your Doctor who prescribed the medication and discuss your intentions to become a truck driver.

You should spend some time on the FMCSA's website reviewing the banned substances lists. Keep in mind Suboxone is a narcotic...most of these are forbidden. There are exceptions though, hopefully that will be the case for you.

Good luck.

I doubt you will have much luck getting a Trucking job on Soboxone. It is usually prescribed to former drug addicts.( Im not sure if that is your situation or not. I am not being judgemental). A history of drug use/abuse is tough to overcome in this industry. Good Luck!

"For awhile now" - means it's going to take awhile (maybe QUITE AWHILE) for you to get all the way off, and feel OK.

Subox was never meant as a "maintenance drug" - and similar to methadone - the detox is usually worse than just getting off the Heroin (or whatever opiate you are trying to steer clear of) cold turkey. You're really sick for a week - and then you get better. Oxy is a little different - you feel like azz for a month (or so) and then you get better.

And even though you aren't "getting high" off it - Suboxone is a Schedule II Controlled Substance. Suboxone is not "specifically prohibited" by FMCSA regs - although Methadone is. A lot of DOT Medical Examiners consider the Opioid component

I've seen where DOT Medical Examiners have issued Medical Certificates - but for a company to hire someone on an Opioid/Agonist is a HIGH RISK PROPOSITION.

Even if you're doing "just fine" on it - and your Dr says so - if you get in an accident while taking it, the folks that are going to be looking to ASSIGN BLAME (that would be the LAWYERS) are going to attack your use of an opioid first.

So while Subox is better than DOPE - it's still not as good as BEING CLEAN. And I'm not trying to judge here - I have over 27 years 100% off the hard stuff.

So...

Be prepared to have most companies that do "company training" - just not want to take the risk of bringing someone on, that's on Subox.

Best of luck - prepare for a nasty detox. I have friends that have been on it for years too - that have also been trying to get OFF IT for quite awhile and would rather stay ON IT - than deal with the discomfort. How soon we forget what FULL BLOWN DOPESICK FELT LIKE.

I have a friend who DOES DRIVE (he's been an O/O for a couple of years) who's working on trying to get off Subox. He has been ON IT HIS ENTIRE DRIVING CAREER. That is - VoTech School, CRST, Malone & O/O. He gets his DOT Med Cards because he DOESN'T DISCLOSE that he's on it. He passes DOT Drug Tests - because urine screening DO NOT TEST FOR IT. He actually had an Subox IMPLANT. He's currently scheduled to do a 45 day detox in Colorado in couple of months, to get all the way off it.

Do I think he's right for "failing to disclose"? No I don't - that's LYING.

Here at TT - we would NEVER RECOMMEND THAT SOMEONE LIE OR FAIL TO DISCLOSE A MEDICATION OR DISQUALIFYING MEDICAL CONDITION.

That's just not how we roll.

Rick

I have thought about just grtting my cdl-b, getting a job somewhere close to town driving dump trucks or something until I get off and then going for my cdl-a as well. Idk, I have got to do something. 38 years old working ny butt off at a tire shop aint getting it.

"For awhile now" - means it's going to take awhile (maybe QUITE AWHILE) for you to get all the way off, and feel OK.

Subox was never meant as a "maintenance drug" - and similar to methadone - the detox is usually worse than just getting off the Heroin (or whatever opiate you are trying to steer clear of) cold turkey. You're really sick for a week - and then you get better. Oxy is a little different - you feel like azz for a month (or so) and then you get better.

And even though you aren't "getting high" off it - Suboxone is a Schedule II Controlled Substance. Suboxone is not "specifically prohibited" by FMCSA regs - although Methadone is. A lot of DOT Medical Examiners consider the Opioid component

I've seen where DOT Medical Examiners have issued Medical Certificates - but for a company to hire someone on an Opioid/Agonist is a HIGH RISK PROPOSITION.

Even if you're doing "just fine" on it - and your Dr says so - if you get in an accident while taking it, the folks that are going to be looking to ASSIGN BLAME (that would be the LAWYERS) are going to attack your use of an opioid first.

So while Subox is better than DOPE - it's still not as good as BEING CLEAN. And I'm not trying to judge here - I have over 27 years 100% off the hard stuff.

So...

Be prepared to have most companies that do "company training" - just not want to take the risk of bringing someone on, that's on Subox.

Best of luck - prepare for a nasty detox. I have friends that have been on it for years too - that have also been trying to get OFF IT for quite awhile and would rather stay ON IT - than deal with the discomfort. How soon we forget what FULL BLOWN DOPESICK FELT LIKE.

I have a friend who DOES DRIVE (he's been an O/O for a couple of years) who's working on trying to get off Subox. He has been ON IT HIS ENTIRE DRIVING CAREER. That is - VoTech School, CRST, Malone & O/O. He gets his DOT Med Cards because he DOESN'T DISCLOSE that he's on it. He passes DOT Drug Tests - because urine screening DO NOT TEST FOR IT. He actually had an Subox IMPLANT. He's currently scheduled to do a 45 day detox in Colorado in couple of months, to get all the way off it.

Do I think he's right for "failing to disclose"? No I don't - that's LYING.

Here at TT - we would NEVER RECOMMEND THAT SOMEONE LIE OR FAIL TO DISCLOSE A MEDICATION OR DISQUALIFYING MEDICAL CONDITION.

That's just not how we roll.

Rick

I have thought about just grtting my cdl-b, getting a job somewhere close to town driving dump trucks or something until I get off and then going for my cdl-a as well. Idk, I have got to do something. 38 years old working ny butt off at a tire shop aint getting it.

The same rules are pretty much going to apply to any CDL job. You will be required to have a DOT Med Card - you will be required to take a Drug Test.

Again - the 10 panel DOT urine tests do not detect Suboxone. Hair Tests don't detect it, unless the company is specifically looking for it.

Again - no one here is going to suggest that you FAIL TO DISCLOSE.

Rick