There are more than 20,000 prescription medications available with a doctor’s recommendation. Drugs ranging from blood pressure medication to pain relievers and birth control are often only available with a valid prescription from a medical professional.
Many of those medications can save or drastically improve the lives of the patients taking them. Some of them can also be dangerous if taken along with other medications or in high doses. The law limits access to medications to protect people from the potential harm prescribed drugs can cause.
While taking medication that is prescribed is legal, many people end up facing criminal charges because of what they do with prescribed medication. What are some of the most common illegal behaviors involving prescription medication?
1. Possessing drugs without a prescription
Maybe a patient feels dependent on a medication after taking it for years, but their doctor ended their prescription. Perhaps they use leftover medication provided by a friend or coworker to treat symptoms without involving a doctor.
Some people even intentionally seek out certain medications to experiment with them, as they may have heard that the medications produce pleasant side effects. Anyone caught in possession of a prescribed medication without a valid recommendation from a licensed physician is potentially at risk of prosecution.
2. Driving after taking medication
Quite a few prescription medications can affect an individual’s ability to safely operate a motor vehicle. Medications often have warning labels advising people not to drive or operate heavy machinery.
Others may have warning labels advising of possible drowsiness. Anyone who fails a drug test because of prescribed medication or admits to consuming a medication that could affect their driving abilities could be at risk of impaired driving charges.
3. Sharing or selling medication
While people may pay to acquire their medication at a pharmacy, they do not have absolute control over the medication once they purchase it. People cannot transfer unused medication to others. Regardless of whether someone makes money on the transfer or not, they could face criminal charges for giving another person their prescription medication.
Individuals facing drug charges may need help responding in criminal court. Fighting back against drug crimes related to prescription medication can help people avoid criminal penalties and a lifelong criminal record.
