Prescription drugs can help if you’re dealing with the aftermath of an injury or surgery, but even though a doctor has allowed you to possess the drugs, you have to be careful what you do with them, otherwise you can end up facing criminal charges. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at three ways that legally possessing a prescription can lead to criminal charges in Minnesota.
When Legal Drugs Become Illegal
You may be able to legally possess the prescription medication, but that doesn’t mean you have free reign to do with them what you please. If you do any of the following with your prescriptions, you could face criminal charges.
1. Driving Under The Influence – A lot of medications say that you should not drive or operate heavy machinery while under the influence of the medication. That’s because even though you have a legal prescription for the medications, you can still be arrested and charged with driving under the influence if it affects your ability to safely drive a vehicle. A prescription will not save you from a DUI, so be very careful about getting behind the wheel if you are taking medications for a health condition.
2. Selling Your Prescription – It’s not uncommon for people to come out of the woodwork and ask to buy your medications if they find out you have access to painkillers. You might think that there’s no harm in selling some of your pills, especially if you don’t need them. This simply isn’t true, and you can end up in a lot of trouble because of it. Selling your prescription is a crime in and of itself, and if the person does something while under the influence of the painkillers you sold them, you can be held criminally liable. Moreover, if they end up overdosing and dying, you can be charged with murder. It’s not worth the risk to sell your prescription, because you could face major fines and significant jail time for doing so.
3. Sharing Your Prescription – Finally, you may think that you can avoid criminal charges if you just share your prescription with friends or family, but again, that’s not the case. Knowingly sharing your opioids with someone else is a crime, and you can also be held criminally liable for their actions while they are under the influence of your medication. Now, you may have a defense against criminal charges if someone else took some of your prescription and you were not aware of it. Knowingly sharing your prescription is illegal, but if someone takes your medications unbeknownst to you, it’s typically not a crime unless clear negligence is involved.
At the end of the day, you need to be responsible for managing your prescription medication and avoiding any potential issues. If you end up making a mistake and need a lawyer in the greater Twin Cities area, reach out to Avery and the team at Appelman Law Firm today at (952) 224-2277.
