Prescription medications are technically controlled substances. There are clear laws regulating the use and distribution of prescribed drugs. People sometimes fall into the trap of assuming that their possession and use of a medication is fully legal when they have a valid prescription from a physician.
However, it is still possible for people to break the law with a medication even if a doctor recommended it to them. Abusing a drug or driving while under its influence could lead to criminal charges. People who have no intention of breaking the law could still make choices that lead to charges. For example, in situations where people have to take their medication routinely throughout the day or have plans to travel, they could very easily make a simple mistake that could put them at risk of prescription drug charges.
Medication must stay in the original container
Older adults who take numerous prescriptions and individuals who take their medication to work, to school or on trips generally need keep their medication in the original packaging. That way, any police officers they encounter can easily validate that the medication is something they can legally possess.
Moving prescribed drugs into more attractive containers or containers intended to help organize medication based on the day or the time when the patient must take it can be a major mistake. Police officers may assume in that scenario that the individual does not have a valid prescription or that the medication in question may not have come from a licensed source.
Either scenario could warrant the prosecution of the person with the prescribed medication. What may seem like a convenient way to stay organized and minimize the hassles of transporting medication can be a legally dangerous decision.
Many people supplement what their doctor recommends with medication they acquire from other parties, such as neighbors or coworkers who have had the same prescription previously. Others may steal medications from people they know and then claim they have a prescription. Police officers tend to err on the side of caution, which may mean arresting because of the packaging them use for medication.
Learning about small choices that increase the risk of drug charges can help those who must use controlled substances for their health to protect themselves legally. Anyone facing accusations of prescription drug crimes may need help preparing a defense strategy to avoid a conviction or minimize the penalties imposed by the courts. Seeking legal guidance quickly is generally a very wise move.