When you are seriously ill or injured you likely will go to the doctor who will prescribe a prescription drug. These drugs are key in your recovery, but they often come with side effects. Some people choose to obtain and use these drugs due to their effects on the human body, even if they do not have a prescription.
Obtaining a Schedule II drug without a prescription
Note that U.S. law classifies drugs in five schedules according to their medical purposes, the likelihood that they will be abused or cause dependency. Schedule I drugs are considered to have no medical use and a high probability of abuse and/or dependency.
Under federal law, if you obtain a Schedule II drug such as Dilaudid, OxyContin or Demerol without a valid prescription, you could face federal drug charges. Sometimes these are acts of desperation or addiction and detox and recovery may be more important than penalization. Still, you could face incarceration and fines in such circumstances.
Obtaining a Schedule III or Schedule IV drug without a prescription
Under federal law, if you obtain a Schedule III drug such as Tylenol with codeine or a Schedule IV drug such as Xanax or Valium without a valid prescription, you could face federal drug charges. In addition, these drugs cannot be refilled more than six months since the original prescription was issued and they cannot be refilled more than five times unless the doctor who wrote the initial prescription renews the prescription.
Protect your interests against drug charges
Being charged with a federal drug crime can be a confusing and intimidating experience. Our law firm can offer you the knowledgeable and experienced help you need in such situations.