Seek Legal Services for Prescription Abuse Cases

The experts tell us that prescription drug abuse has reached epidemic proportions in the United States, with over six million people using prescription drugs for non-medical reasons each month. Not surprisingly, the number of arrests for offenses related to the possession and sale of prescription drugs has also soared in recent years.

If you are currently facing charges for a prescription drug offense in Missouri or Kansas, it is imperative that you understand the potential penalties you are facing as well as the options you may have to avoid a conviction.

All too often, people operate under the common misconception that having a prescription for a controlled substance provides a shield against criminal accountability.

The truth, however, is that you can be charged and convicted for the sale of a controlled substance, despite the fact that you have a valid prescription, if you sell, trade, or give, your medication to another person. You could also be convicted of possession of a controlled substance if you are in possession of medication that was not dispensed to you from a pharmacy pursuant to a valid prescription – even if you have a prescription.

The bottom line is that having a valid prescription is not a “get out of jail free” card. On the contrary, law enforcement agencies are actively looking for people who are abusing validly prescribed drugs.

In both Missouri and Kansas, you could be charged and convicted of a criminal offense for selling, or even giving away, a single prescription pain pill to someone. That criminal conviction will then follow you for life, causing a ripple effect of negative consequences.

The good news is that there are a number of potential defenses that could be available to you if you have recently been charged with a criminal offense related to prescription drug abuse.

The key to protecting your rights – and your future – is to seek the advice and assistance of the experienced criminal defense attorney at the Law Office of Heath A. Stuart, Chartered immediately.