Older adults and people with long-term medical challenges may take multiple prescriptions. They may struggle to remember when to take certain medications. Even those with only one or two prescriptions may have difficulty ensuring they take their medication on time without missing a dose. Some people put themselves at risk of criminal charges by trying to better oversee their use of medication.
Theoretically, prescription medication is legal to use and possess in accordance with a doctor’s recommendation. Provided that a licensed physician recommends treatment with a particular drug and a patient obtains the medication from a licensed pharmacist, they can use and possess the medication without fear of criminal consequences.
Certain small decisions made by patients can potentially put them at risk of criminal prosecution. The abuse of prescription medication is a widespread issue, and police officers may assume the worst if they encounter someone in possession of commonly abused medications. If those medications aren’t in the packaging provided by a licensed pharmacy, the patient possessing them might be vulnerable to prosecution.
Pill planners can lead to legal complications
Many older adults and individuals with chronic medical challenges need help organizing their medication. They may use daily, weekly or monthly pill containers to track their doses of different medications. Such arrangements are unlikely to generate much attention in the privacy of an individual’s home.
However, if people have to take medication at work or travel with it while on vacation, then those multi-day containers become a source of legal risk. Police officers who encounter someone in possession of medication in such containers cannot affirm that the individual has a valid prescription. They can’t tell if the medication came from a licensed pharmacy when the medication is no longer in the original packaging.
Patients generally need to keep their medication in the original packaging when they intend to travel with the medication. Otherwise, police officers may suspect them of possessing the drug without a prescription or obtaining it from an unlicensed source. Those who use drugs associated with abuse may have more reason for concern than those using blood pressure medication. Sleep aids, pain medication, muscle relaxants and psychiatric drugs are among the various medications associated with abuse.
Individuals facing drug charges due to their storage or transportation practices may need help responding to their pending charges. Developing a criminal defense strategy can help those arrested for prescription medication avoid life-altering consequences over a simple misunderstanding.