PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE

 

A drug can be legal when prescribed by a doctor, yet it can be illegal when someone uses it without a valid prescription. If you are being investigated for a prescription drug crime, you need to have a good California Criminal Defense Attorney on your side.

Prescription drug abuse is on the rise in Southern California, especially in the areas of Downey and Long Beach. There are many possible ways for someone to acquire prescription drugs for illegal use. Some people obtain the prescription drugs from a person who has a valid prescription. Some people steal a doctor’s official prescription pad and forge the doctor’s signature for the medication, while some create a counterfeit prescription that resembles a doctor’s official prescription. Some people do what is called "Doctor Shopping," which is going to many different doctors complaining about a medical condition to get prescriptions from each of them. An experienced prescription drug defense attorney is a must!

PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE IS ON THE RISE

A 2009 survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed that prescription drug abuse is definitely on the rise, with 20% of teens saying they have taken a prescription drug without a doctor's prescription.

Why? Many people believe that prescription drugs are safer and less addictive than street drugs. After all, these are drugs that parents, and even kid brothers and sisters may use. But prescription drugs are only safe for the individuals who actually received prescriptions for them. The reason for this is that a doctor has examined these people and prescribed the right dose of medication for a specific medical condition. The doctor has also told them precisely how their patient should take the medicine, including things to avoid while taking the drug .  The areas of Long Beach, Bellflower, Norwalk and Downey have experienced a recent surge in these types of offenses.  They also are made aware of potentially dangerous and deadly side effects and can monitor patients closely for these.

Most prescription drugs that people abuse are pain medications. If taken in a high enough dosage, the sensation is similar to the use of an illegal drug. Sometimes, a person is legally prescribed a pain medication and he or she develops a prescription drug addiction after long-term use.

If you are facing a legal problem in Southern California involving criminal issues, please feel free to contact Attorney Errol Cook for help.  Free initial consultations are available by phone.