For some, prescription drugs are a necessity to address any ailments or pain they might have. However, if you are using, distributing, or in possession of prescription drugs that were not specifically prescribed to you, you could be facing jail time, fines, and other possible penalties. It might not seem like a major offense to take a pill from someone else’s medicine cabinet, but the fact is that it is illegal and packs some serious consequences.
Prescription Medication Abuse
When people think of drug abuse, they tend to think of illicit drugs like cocaine or heroin, but in recent years, pain medication abuse has spiked, and is often used recreationally. Across the country, there are now pain clinics popping up, prescribing medications recklessly, which has earned them the nickname “pill mill.”
If you are a doctor who is overprescribing pain medications, a dealer, or you are simply someone who is struggling with an addiction to pills that were not prescribed to you, you could potentially face charges for possession, distribution, or for using medications in an illegitimate manner.
Here is a closer look at the aforementioned offenses:
- Possession: Even though prescription drugs are legal, possessing them without a valid prescription or in amounts that exceed the prescription, is not legal. In the wrong hands, prescription medication is considered a controlled substance and treated like other drug crimes.
- Intent to Distribute: Generally, if a person is carrying more drugs than he or she could ever need for personal use, law enforcement could presume the individual intends to distribute them.
- Possession with Intent to Distribute: To convict someone of this crime, a prosecutor would have to prove that you were not only in possession of drugs, but that you intended to sell them.
Penalties for Prescription Drug Crimes
The penalties you could potentially face for prescription drug crimes will vary and depend on a vast range of factors, including the type of drug and the schedule it falls under. For example, the possession of amphetamines will result in a maximum $5,000 fine and or a year in county jail for a first-time offense. For schedule I or schedule II narcotics, you could face a maximum of a $10,000 fine and or 3 years and a half in prison. Non-narcotics pack the least severe penalties, with a fine of up to $500 and or 30 days of imprisonment.
Prescription Drug Crimes Attorney in Milwaukee
If you are facing charges for prescription drugs, you will need the assistance of a skilled criminal defense attorney to help obtain the best possible results for your case. At the Law Offices of Christopher J. Cherella, our criminal defense attorney has more than 20 years of proven experience and has provided knowledgeable and effective legal representation for thousands of clients.
For the representation you deserve and need, contact us today at (414) 882-8382 to schedule your free initial case evaluation with a criminal defense attorney.