Some substances are considered so highly addictive that they need to be controlled. Some of these don’t have accepted medical uses, which means that doctors can’t write prescriptions for them, and you can’t legally use them.
A person who’s caught with a controlled substance can face criminal charges, but it’s possible to present a defense based on having a prescription if it’s a medication that a doctor prescribed for you. This includes narcotic medications like cough syrups with codeine or pain relievers like Vicodin. The only way you can use this as a defense is if the prescription is written to you.
Classification of the drug matters
All controlled substances are categorized in one of five schedules. Schedule I is the most highly controlled, while schedule V isn’t as highly regulated. The classification of each substance is based on the likelihood of abuse and the accepted medical uses. Some controlled substances in Schedule I, including LSD and marijuana, are being used for medical treatments or are the subject of medical research.
One thing to remember is that you can’t pass along your prescriptions to others because you can face criminal charges for doing this. A prescription, especially for a narcotic, is meant only for the patient to whom it’s prescribed. Even if your friend has a prescription of their own for the exact same substance, they must legally obtain their own.
Facing drug charges requires you to carefully consider your defense options. The outcome could have a big impact on your future, so be sure you consider this as you review your options. Because some of these might be time-sensitive, you need to make determinations quickly about what you’re going to do.
