Prescription medications are subject to medical oversight. People typically cannot possess prescription medication without a written recommendation from a physician.
If police officers encounter an individual in possession of prescribed drugs without a prescription or valid packaging from a pharmacy, they may assume that the person obtained those medications illegally. They may arrest the person immediately, even if they claim they have a prescription.
Police officers do have a degree of discretion during interactions with members of the public, and the likelihood of abuse is one factor that may influence whether they arrest someone for possession of a prescription medication.
Some medications are easy to abuse
There are multiple types of drugs that have clear medical uses but still pose the risk of abuse and addiction. Opioid and opiate painkillers are subject to strict regulations due to the likelihood of abuse and addiction.
Muscle relaxants and prescription sleep medication are also subject to careful oversight due to the high risk of abuse. Stimulants, depressants, psychiatric medication and erectile dysfunction drugs are also among the most commonly-abused medications. Police officers are much less likely to worry about the abuse or distribution of prescription antibiotics or a topical steroid cream for a rash than medications that people commonly abuse for recreational purposes or due to chemical dependence.
Those facing prescription drug charges can fight the allegations against them by proving the validity of a prescription or otherwise undermining the state’s allegation that they unlawfully possessed a prescribed drug. Reviewing the circumstances leading to an arrest and the nature of the prescription medication involved with a skilled legal team can help those facing drug charges to avoid life-altering convictions.
