prescription drug violations


The abuse of prescription drugs is a hot topic right now. Politicians and police departments across the country are making this a priority. Just ask the Maryland physician who was arrested for writing too many Adderall prescriptions in November. If you’ve been arrested for a prescription drug offense, then the consequences could be severe. The best thing to do is to learn about your rights and to contact an experienced legal team that will aggressively defend you.

Types of Offenses

There are a number of reasons why someone might be charged with a prescription drug offense. They include:

  • Possession
  • Intent to distribute
  • Trafficking
  • Forging prescriptions
  • Doctor shopping

Each one of these charges could result in serious fines and/or jail time. Intent to distribute and trafficking, for instance, may both be felonies, which means that the offender will spend at least one year in jail if convicted. In addition, those convicted of felonies may face obstacles when attempting to secure employment, housing, or exercise their right to vote.

Types of Prescription Drugs

Police departments are concerned primarily with drugs that are opioids, central nervous system depressants, and stimulants. These include:

  • Oxycodone
  • Adderall
  • Fentanyl
  • Valium
  • Xanax
Government Action

Because prescription drug abuse is increasingly seen as an epidemic in medical and law enforcement circles, politicians are taking action at the local, state, and federal level. In January 2017, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan announced his Heroin and Opioid Task Force. President Trump also announced opioid abuse as a national emergency in July, 2017. While these movements certainly have the potential to help the lives of addicts and potential addicts, it’s important to remember that many Americans use these drugs responsibly, as prescribed, to address severe pain that would experience otherwise. We must ensure that the rights of these people are respected.

It should also be noted that some aspects of prescription drug enforcement are in their nascent stages. The charge of “doctor shopping,” for instance, is a rather new concept. In most areas of medicine, patients are encouraged to seek more than one opinion. Before deciding to undergo surgery, for example, it is usually a wise choice to consult with more than one physician to examine the potential benefits and dangers involved. When it comes to prescription drugs, however, the idea of going to more than one doctor in order to get the highest dosage possible may be considered a criminal act. This raises serious questions for doctors, lawmakers, law enforcement officials, prosecutors, and most importantly, patients. How much of a prescription drug is too much? How many appointments with different doctors is too many? This is just one example of an area of law that must be explored further in order to create the fairest and most transparent outcomes for those parties involved.

Contact the Right Legal Team

If you have been charged with some kind of prescription drug crimes in the Glen Burnie or Columbia, Maryland area, then you should contact an experienced and dedicated legal team as soon as possible. The consequences of being convicted can be severe. You deserve top-notch, aggressive advocacy and counsel in order to successfully navigate the legal system. Call the Law Offices of Todd K. Mohink, PA today to learn more.

Resources:

washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/md-physician-accused-of-writing-illegal-prescriptions-for-hooters-waitresses/2017/11/30/e574582d-fedc-4c96-ac8f-97c3403d77ec_story.html?utm_term=.2a7c85932113

governor.maryland.gov/2017/01/24/governor-hogan-lt-governor-rutherford-announce-2017-heroin-and-opioid-prevention-treatment-and-enforcement-initiative/

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