By When you think about people facing a drug offense, you likely imagine them possessing illegal drugs such as heroin or cocaine. However, people also face offenses related to the possession of prescription drugs without a valid prescription.
If an officer of the law believes you have committed prescription drug fraud or misuse, you may face severe penalties. If so, the lawyers at Stroleny Law, P. A., recommend contacting a criminal defense attorney right away to help you fight for your rights and future.
What Are Prescription Drug Crimes?
People are getting addicted to opioids and going to great lengths to acquire these medications. They may not know that the makeup of opioids and heroin is almost identical, and the level of addiction is also the same.
People who get addicted to prescription medications look for any way to get their hands on the substances to which they have become addicted, and they might commit prescription fraud.
Prescription fraud is the illegal procurement of substances used to manufacture medications. Addicts or dealers may look for ways to get them in pharmacies, hospitals, clinics, or any facility where they may be stored or illegally distributed.
The law makes it illegal to obtain prescription medications through deceit, forgery, fraud, or misinterpretation, and people found to have engaged in these activities face severe penalties.
How Is Prescription Fraud Different From Other Drug Crimes?
Many people who engage in prescription fraud are not always aware of the gravity of their actions or the consequences they may face.
They may believe that drug crimes only involve the manufacturing, selling, possessing, or trafficking of drugs, but they may ignore the fact that drug crimes, regardless of the drug in question, face the same legal consequences.
You cannot legally acquire prescription drugs without a prescription from a licensed medical health practitioner. By their very nature, they are much stronger than medications people can buy over the counter and can be just as addictive and dangerous as illegal drugs.
Criminal laws regulate the use, distribution, and possession of prescription drugs, making it illegal to purchase these substances through prescription fraud.
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What Are The Penalties For Prescription Fraud?
Prescription drug fraud carries serious penalties, including jail time, fines, and a permanent criminal record. Depending on the circumstances of the case, getting prescription drugs through fraud is a third-degree felony. There is also a maximum 5-year jail sentence and a fine of up to $5,000.
Anyone who has obtained prescription drugs through fraud and has them on their person when arrested can face additional charges for illegally possessing the drugs.
Depending on the number of drugs that are found in your possession, you may also be charged with prescription drug trafficking. The penalties associated with these charges are much stiffer, including heftier fines and much longer prison sentences.
If you have been charged with a drug offense, no matter how small or minor, you may face life-changing consequences that can follow you for many years, if not for life. If you find yourself in this situation, waste no time in contacting an experienced criminal defense attorney.
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