People often classify drugs into three main categories. There are relatively safe drugs that have limited or no government oversight. These include caffeine, aspirin and many remedies for basic ailments, like cough syrup and over-the-counter sleep aids. There are also controlled substances that pose some risk of abuse and therefore require government oversight. Prescription medications fall into the second category. Finally, there are prohibited or banned drugs that the government does not recognize any lawful use for and which can result in someone’s arrest for nearly possessing those substances.
All too often, those with prescription medication placement and forget that there are laws restricting their use and possession of those medicines in Mississippi. Why do those with valid prescriptions in Mississippi still risk getting arrested for drug offenses?
Driving after using medication
A doctor’s recommendation for a medication does not diminish the side effects that the drug has on an individual. There are many types of drugs, ranging from narcotic pain relievers and muscle relaxants to anti-epilepsy drugs and psychiatric medications that diminish someone’s ability to drive. Anyone who gets behind the wheel after ingesting a medication that might affect their cognition or motor function could end up prosecuted for impaired driving even if the prescription they have is totally valid.
Sharing medication with others
Some medications cost hundreds of dollars at the pharmacy even when people have health insurance, and those who have paid for their medication may not relish the idea of tossing out the remnants or turning them in at the local police department. However, a prescription is only lawful permission for one person to possess and use the medication as recommended by a doctor. Any attempt to transfer either the physical medication itself or to give the prescription paperwork to another person could lead to the prosecution of the individual who transfers their medication.
Seeking an unregulated source
Given how expensive prescription medication can be, some people would rather obtain a recent prescription from a supplier other than their local pharmacy. Buying extra medication from a family member or neighbor might seem like a reasonable way to cut costs, but someone caught after purchasing medication from an unregulated supplier could end up in major trouble. Prescribed medications are only legal to possess when someone has a current and valid prescription and when the medication itself comes from a licensed facility.
What seems like common-sense or money-saving solutions might actually put someone at risk of prosecution. Avoiding common mistakes related to prescription medication may help someone get the medical support they need without running afoul of the law in Mississippi.
