Georgee
Member
Hi All
I am new to the site so forgive me if I am posting this in the wrong place. I was banned in November 2018 for 3.5 years for drink driving; I am ashamed to say it is not my first such conviction - hence the long ban. As normal in these covid times, the reapplication process has taken forever. If things had gone to plan, I would have been unbanned in May 2022. I went for both the medical/blood (CDT) test and then a drug screen. I was a little nervous about this one as I am also on a treatment program to recover from opiate addiction from prescription pain meds. However, I declared all that and it seems that my particular instances and mild treatment are acceptable to the DVLA for driving.
However, what has happened is that they found another drug in my blood test: the sleeping tablet zopiclone. This was something prescribed to me over a year prior to this and the sort of thing you take rarely. I had taken one about 5 days to a week prior to the blood test and didn't give it any thought. That was June. After many calls and no news, I got a letter yesterday saying that my license is revoked and that the zopiclone was detected and not declared- thus evidence of persistent drug misuse. That's it. I have to basically prove I am 'clean' of that for 12 months.
Aside from being completely angry with myself for not thinking about the possibility that sleeping tablet might cause a problem I am also a bit heartbroken. I have waited nearly 4 years for my license. This being the second time in my life I had let alcohol get the better of me, I have finally managed to completely give up drink for over two years. At the same time, I realised I was addicted to the co-codamol I had been getting for back pain and got treatment for that. So I thought I had things pretty much all straightened out. Now I just feel a bit numb. I have written to the DVLA with this, but as my GP says - anyone can just buy these things online, so why would they believe me? Why would they believe a convicted drink driver and an ex-opiate addict? Any advice greatly appreciated.
I am new to the site so forgive me if I am posting this in the wrong place. I was banned in November 2018 for 3.5 years for drink driving; I am ashamed to say it is not my first such conviction - hence the long ban. As normal in these covid times, the reapplication process has taken forever. If things had gone to plan, I would have been unbanned in May 2022. I went for both the medical/blood (CDT) test and then a drug screen. I was a little nervous about this one as I am also on a treatment program to recover from opiate addiction from prescription pain meds. However, I declared all that and it seems that my particular instances and mild treatment are acceptable to the DVLA for driving.
However, what has happened is that they found another drug in my blood test: the sleeping tablet zopiclone. This was something prescribed to me over a year prior to this and the sort of thing you take rarely. I had taken one about 5 days to a week prior to the blood test and didn't give it any thought. That was June. After many calls and no news, I got a letter yesterday saying that my license is revoked and that the zopiclone was detected and not declared- thus evidence of persistent drug misuse. That's it. I have to basically prove I am 'clean' of that for 12 months.
Aside from being completely angry with myself for not thinking about the possibility that sleeping tablet might cause a problem I am also a bit heartbroken. I have waited nearly 4 years for my license. This being the second time in my life I had let alcohol get the better of me, I have finally managed to completely give up drink for over two years. At the same time, I realised I was addicted to the co-codamol I had been getting for back pain and got treatment for that. So I thought I had things pretty much all straightened out. Now I just feel a bit numb. I have written to the DVLA with this, but as my GP says - anyone can just buy these things online, so why would they believe me? Why would they believe a convicted drink driver and an ex-opiate addict? Any advice greatly appreciated.