Arizona’s DUI laws are some of the most severe in the country, and Sen. Jim Waring wants to make the laws even more restrictive with the introduction of a bill that would ban motorists from driving under the influence of prescription methadone.
Methadone — a synthetic opioid developed in World War II Germany — is a common treatment for drug dependence. An oral dosing of methadone stops feelings of withdrawal in addicts and blocks the euphoric effects of heroin and morphine.
Statutory law bans individuals from operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs, but exempts individuals taking a drug prescribed by a doctor from DUI penalties.
Waring’s bill would remove methadone from the list of exempted prescription drugs, giving drivers taking the medication the same punishment as a person driving while under the influence of alcohol or an illegal drug.
“People came to me because I did a DUI bill that had a lot of success,” Waring said. “This is not as huge an area. It will not create as many fatalities as drunk driving does, but we do not want to overlook something that might be easily rectified.”
The bill, S1003, was introduced in response to a series of accidents in 2008 caused by the delayed response times of drivers using methadone. Several of the accidents, such as the one that killed five cheerleaders in Prescott, were caused by drivers taking methadone in conjunction with other prescription drugs.
Waring said he would consider adjusting the measure to distinguish between penalties for drivers using only methadone and for those taking the drug as part of a prescription cocktail. 
“I understand there is a middle ground,” he said. “I would be amenable to change.” 
Sen. Linda Gray, chairman of the Senate Public Safety and Human Services Committee, has indicated an interest in the bill, Waring said.