Prescription Drug Charges

You may be aware that Pennsylvania has strict laws to prevent drug abuse. Offenders have to deal with harsh sentencing that includes steep fines and long prison sentences. What you perhaps don’t know is that the law is equally stringent in the case of prescription drugs.

Certain prescription drugs often turn addictive and dangerous. Their abuse is pretty wide, and this crime is unfortunately on the rise. If you or one of your loved ones has been charged with illegal possession or purchase of prescription drugs, you need to get in touch with a seasoned Pittsburgh criminal defense lawyer, such as those at Logue Law Group, to fight for your rights and protect your honor in the community.

What You Need to Know

The laws in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania make it illegal to acquire or possess a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception, or subterfuge, either for personal use or sale to another person. You can be charged for writing your own prescription by stealing a doctor’s pad to acquire certain prescription drugs, such as those that are mentioned in Pennsylvania’s Drug Schedules III, IV & V, as well as some prescription drugs that are mentioned in Schedule II.

You can be charged for any of these:

Stealing a doctor’s legitimate prescription pad to write your own prescription
Stealing someone else’s prescription to buy drugs illegally
Altering a doctor’s legitimate prescription to purchase drugs you aren’t prescribed
Generating a fake copy of a prescription to acquire drugs
Impersonating a doctor and contacting a pharmacy for refills
Distributing or selling prescription drugs illegally
Medical practitioners can also be charged in case of violations

What Are Some of the Most Commonly Abused Prescription Drugs?

The following is a list of the most commonly abused prescription drugs in the Pittsburgh area:

Morphine
Codeine
Adderall/amphetamines
Vicodin/hydrocodone
Demerol/meperidine
Oxycontin/oxymorphone
Xanax/alprazolam
Valium/diazepam

What Are The Consequences of a Conviction for Prescription Drug Crimes?

“Possession” is having the actual drug in a container on your person, or in your purse, pocket, other part of your clothing, or in a body cavity. Possession can also mean you were aware the prescription drug was there, knew it was illegal for you to have it, intended to take control of it, and were able to do so.

Illegally possessing prescription drugs like Oxycontin and Vicodin can result in a fine of up to $5,000 and a year in prison for a first offense. The prison term goes up by one year for each of the second and third offenses.

How Can a Prescription Drug Crime Attorney in Pittsburgh Help You?

The arresting officer and law enforcement agencies leave no stone unturned to ensure offenders get the strictest possible punishment. The experienced Pittsburgh criminal defense attorneys at Logue Law Group have successfully defended hundreds of clients against prescription drug charges. They are committed to protecting the rights and honor of their clients during trial, and offering the strongest possible defense.

If you have been charged with possession of prescription drugs, forgery of prescriptions, or prescription drug trafficking, you need experienced representation to help you retain your rights and obtain the best possible outcome for your case.

Many times, cases involving prescription drug charges can be won. The police may not have had probable cause to search your home or vehicle, for example. The Pittsburgh criminal defense attorneys at Logue Law Group are experienced in defending against prescription drug charges. They will work hard to determine if your arrest was legal, and, if it turns out that you are addicted to the drugs you are accused of stealing, they will push to get you into a rehabilitation program instead of prison.