Prescription medications are controlled substances. They are subject to strict state regulations. People can only use prescription medication when a doctor believes that they are medically necessary. Even after a doctor recommends medication, people are still at risk of drug-related charges because of prescribed medication. Many defendants facing prescription drug charges make the same mistakes that put them at risk of prosecution.
What types of behaviors increase the possibility of a drug charge related to a medication that is legal with a prescription?
Sharing medication with others
Perhaps a patient has finished their treatment and no longer requires certain medications. Maybe a friend or coworker has similar symptoms, and they want to see if the same medication might help. There are countless scenarios that might inspire an individual with a prescription to share their medication with someone else. Even without any sort of financial gain, the act of transferring prescription medication without a license is a crime.
Sourcing medication inappropriately
Doctors who prescribe controlled substances such as stimulants and pain relievers often face intense regulatory oversight. They may have to end a prescription while a patient still has significant symptoms. That patient may then try to obtain medication from an unregulated source. Getting caught in the act of purchasing medication or possessing medication dispensed to a different patient could lead to criminal charges.
Transporting medication for others
Sometimes, an individual who needs medication cannot make it to the pharmacy. They might ask a friend, family member or roommate to pick up their medication. Other times, people may ask others to bring them medication at work if they leave it at home. Collecting new medication for someone with a valid prescription is legal. Transporting medication in a different container that someone has already begun using might lead to criminal charges. Police officers who discover the medication have no way to verify the claim that the person in possession does not intend to use it but only needs to transport it. Seemingly kind gestures and minor choices can lead to very serious drug charges.
Fighting back against drug charges often requires the support of someone familiar with the law. Those accused of inappropriate conduct with prescription medication can potentially avoid a conviction with the right defense strategy.
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