It’s important to act decisively when facing prescription drug charges

By now, most people are aware that prescription drug abuse has become a major health concern both here in Maryland and across the U.S. However, they may not fully grasp just how much on an issue it has really become over the last few years.

To illustrate, consider the following statistics:

  • On a national level, the number of overdose deaths connected to opioid painkillers (oxycodone, oxycontin, etc.) tripled between 1999 and 2006, and by 2007, the number of fatal opioid-related overdoses surpassed those attributable to both heroin and cocaine combined.
  • On a state level, one in five admissions to Maryland Alcohol and Drug-Abuse Administration treatment programs in 2010 were for prescription drugs, a doubling of previous rates, while calls to the Maryland Poison Control Center related to the intentional abuse/intentional misuse of opiates other than heroin increased by 69 percent from 2007 to 2010.

In addition, data shows that 45 percent of treatment program admissions for opioid painkiller addiction back in 2010 were people in their 20s.

It’s truly unfortunate to see how much of a toll highly addictive medications like Vicodin, Ritalin, Xanax, Valium and Demerol, to name only a few, are taking on the population, especially young people.

The unfortunate truth is that many people struggling with prescription drugs end up with major addiction issues thanks to the sudden onset of debilitating medical condition or the need to undergo a major surgical procedure.

In other words, they took the prescription drugs to help manage acute pain, but inadvertently became addicted in the process.

It’s stories like these that are so important in criminal cases concerning the illegal possession of prescription drugs, as a skilled legal professional can tell your story to both judges and prosecutors, and argue why placement in a treatment program would be far more beneficial in the long run than incarceration.

In addition, an experienced criminal defense attorney can work to build a strong case if you are facing serious charges related to distribution, trafficking, prescription forging and/or doctor shopping. In these scenarios, your rights must be protected and every effort made to protect your future.

Please visit our website to learn more about representation for prescription drug crimes.

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