A prescription from a doctor makes it legal for you to possess and use controlled substances. However, people still get arrested all the time for violations of controlled substance laws.
What you do with the prescription medication could lead to your arrest and prosecution. Understanding ways that you might break the law with a drug that is legal when prescribed by a doctor can help you avoid making those mistakes.
Driving after taking a medication that affects your safety
Dozens of drugs can have dangerous effects on your ability to drive. Anything from a muscle relaxant to a sleep medication could impact your driving and put you at risk. You could cause a crash or just get pulled over and then arrested for admitting that you drove after taking a prescription medication.
Misusing a medication that a doctor prescribes
If you have a few pills left over at the end of your treatment, you might use those pills in a way other than the doctor intended. Taking more than you should at once or combining a medication with another substance can lead to an arrest for driving under the influence in addition to being dangerous for you.
Sharing your medication with someone else
Your prescription only makes it legal for you to possess the medicine. If you no longer need it, you should dispose of it safely. Transferring it to someone else, even if that person has a prescription for the same medication, violates the law. If that person gets caught with your pills or if they cause an accident or suffer harm after taking them, you might be the one facing legal consequences.
Recognizing the limitations of what you can do with prescription drugs can help you avoid drug charges. If you have been arrested, it’s important to protect your rights and understand your legal options.