Many Florida police officers check for illegal possession of prescription drugs during traffic stops. This can lead to extremely serious felony charges for something you didn’t even know was a crime.
So when is possession of a prescription drug illegal?
In Florida, it is a felony to possess certain prescription drugs without a prescription. Examples include Percocet, OxyContin, Vicodin, Norco, Lortab, Fentanyl and Lorcet. These drugs are both dangerous and highly addictive, and law enforcement has made arrests for illegal possession of these drugs a priority.
You could be charged with illegal possession of a prescription drug even if you did not intend to commit a crime. Illegal possession includes:
- Carrying a friend’s or family member’s prescription
- Carrying a prescription in a container other than the one in which it was dispensed
- Carrying a drug for which the prescription has expired
- Obtaining prescription drugs through fraud or doctor shopping
A felony drug conviction can affect your life in many ways, even if you do not serve jail time:
- You could lose eligibility for student loans and other government programs
- You could find it harder to rent an apartment or obtain a loan
- Employers will see your arrest record and may not hire you as a result
If you have been arrested for illegal possession of a prescription drug, you should not make any admissions before you talk to an experienced criminal defense lawyer.
