The term drug crime conjures the image of meeting someone in a back alley to buy marijuana or heroin. But for many Collin County residents, drug crimes involve everyday products you get at the local pharmacy. In fact, Texas prosecutors have increasingly focused on prescription drug crimes, especially those involving popular pain medications.
Drug Crimes Involving Prescription Drugs
Prescription drugs are classified as “controlled substances” by federal and state laws. This means it is illegal for anyone to possess them without a doctor’s prescription. So, for example, if you take one of your spouse’s prescription sleeping pills, you are committing a crime.
Now, your spouse is unlikely to report you to the police. But consider a sadly all-too-common scenario. Many elderly Collin County residents have trouble making ends meet, so they decide to resell some of their prescription medication pills to people suffering from drug addiction. Nobody wants to think of grandma as a drug dealer, but in the eyes of the law, that is what she is.
And it is not just the elderly. Prescription drug abuse is also common among teens and young adults in Texas. In many cases a teenager will take prescription drugs from their parents’ medicine cabinet and sell them at school. If you do not keep a careful watch over your own prescriptions, you may be surprised to find one day the police are at your door seeking to interview or even arrest your son or daughter.
Prescription Fraud
On the other end of the spectrum, many people are charged with fraudulently obtaining prescriptions. This is often the case with people who become addicted to pain medication. Some people are so desperate they steal their doctor’s prescription pad. In other cases, an addict may go obtain multiple prescriptions from different doctors or they may try and alter a legitimate prescription to increase the quantity or dosage.
All of these acts are considered criminal offenses. Texas law enforcement has become especially aggressive in recent years in pursuing prescription drug fraud related to opioids (pain relievers), sedatives and antidepressants, and stimulants. Some of the more commonly abused prescription drugs include Buprenorphine, Oxycodone, Oxycontin, Ritalin, Valium, Vicodin, and Xanax.
What Should I Do If I’m Charged with a Prescription Drug Crime in Collin County?
If you are charged with a prescription drug crime, the important thing is not to panic or try to deal with law enforcement by yourself. You need to contact an experienced Collin County drug crimes lawyer who knows how to deal with cases like yours. Call Rosenthal Kalabus & Therrian today at (972) 369-0577 to schedule a consultation with one of our qualified Collin County criminal defense attorneys.