You can generally break powerful drugs into two main categories. There are legal, if controlled substances that people can use under the direct supervision of a physician, and then there are illegal or prohibited substances that people cannot ever legally possess or consume.
It is a common misconception that controlled substances are less risky because they are legal. People assume that there is less danger in getting caught with oxycodone than with heroin. However, opioid abuse and resale on the unregulated market have become an issue of pressing concern across Arkansas in recent years.
Police officers are well aware of how many people abuse synthetic opioids and how much demand there is for the substances on the unregulated secondary market.
You can easily get arrested for prescription medication
Just because a drug can be legal doesn’t mean it is always legal. It is legal to use ADHD medication to help you study or perform a job that requires intense focus. It is not legal to purchase ADHD medication on the unregulated market to use to pull an all-nighter for a project you delayed finishing at work.
A prescribed medication is only legal when used as directed by a physician and by the person with the prescription. If someone transfers their medication to someone else, they break the law by doing so. The recipient or buyer breaks the law by possessing or using that medication without a valid prescription and without a doctor overseeing its use.
There are numerous medications that have a strong and well-documented association with abuse, ranging from stimulants to psychiatric drugs and pain relievers.
Prescription drug mistakes can change the course of your life
Having access to the best possible medical care can help you recover from a debilitating injury or illness, but some of the most effective medications can also do harm when misused. Those facing drug charges related to the misuse or transfer of prescription medication may have opportunities to defend against their pending charges or to pursue support in the drug courts rather than castigation in the criminal court system.
Learning more about the Arkansas approach to drug offenses can help those accused of abusing or trafficking prescription medication.