When many people hear the term “drug crime,” they often think of a shady individual selling
heroin in an alleyway or a larger-scale drug cartel operation such as those seen
in crime dramas. While these are indeed examples of drug crimes, many
are shocked to hear that a growing number of drug crimes and abuse cases
in the United States actually involve prescription drugs. According to
the United States Department of Justice, more than six million Americans
abuse prescription drugs, with more accidental deaths now caused by prescription
drug overdoses than car accidents. Prescription drugs are now the second
most-abused category of drugs after
marijuana.
The same study revealed that more than 70% of people abusing prescription
pain relievers receive them from friends or relatives, including raiding
the family medicine cabinet. Commonly abused prescription drugs include:
- Vicodin
- Valium
- Percocet
- Xanax
- OxyContin
- Adderall
- Codeine
- Ritalin
- Methadone
Types of Prescription Drug Charges
Nevada has strict laws which prohibit the unlawful
possession,
sale, and
trafficking of prescription drugs, with many of these offenses being prosecuted just
as tenaciously as those involving narcotics. Prescription drugs are highly
regulated and require a current and valid prescription to be legally possessed
or used, and may only be sold by licensed pharmaceutical distributors.
Likewise, it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle while under the influence
of any prescription medication.
Due to these strict regulations, many have been forced to resort to more
creative means of obtaining prescription drugs, with prescription fraud
being one of the most popular. Prescription fraud is often a felony offense
and can take a variety of forms, including visiting several doctors to
receive multiple prescriptions, known as “doctor shopping,”
forging doctors’ signatures on stolen Rx pads, altering specified
quantities on legitimate prescriptions, or even printing fake prescriptions
while posing as a doctor.
Fight Your Prescription Drug Charges
Regardless of the specifics, any drug crime is a serious matter and can
expose a defendant to harsh penalties upon conviction, including prison
time, expensive fines, and a permanent criminal record. If you have been
charged with any
prescription drug-related offense, contact the aggressive advocates at the Law Office of David R. Fischer
at once. Having defended countless individuals accused of drug crimes
and earned a recognition by
Super Lawyers® for our unmatched dedication and skills, our
Las Vegas criminal defense lawyer can provide the powerful representation you need to guard your future
and freedom.
Call (702) 866-9864 or
contact us online today to discover your defense options.