If you’ve been caught with prescription pills without having a prescription for them, whether you use them to treat a medical condition or you use them recreationally, you could be facing serious legal penalties – and you may need to get in touch with a Chicago criminal defense attorney who can defend you in court.
Drug Charges in Chicago for Prescription Pills
The law on illicit drugs is very clear: if you don’t have a prescription for narcotic pills, it’s illegal to have or take them.
That includes pills such as Xanax, Vicodin and Oxycontin. Even if you once had a prescription for the pills, you can’t continue to take them unless you have a current prescription.
Unfortunately, that’s why many people who are caught with prescription pills that they don’t have a prescription for; they once had a legitimate prescription but it ran out, and they feel they still need the pills.
What Happens if You’re Caught With Prescription Pills?
If you’re caught with prescription pills without a valid prescription to prove that you need them, the court could find you guilty of a felony. The severity of the felony (and the penalties) depends on the type of pills you had. Narcotics are classified under the law based on several factors, including their potential for abuse. Generally speaking, the lower a drug’s number on the schedule, the more serious a crime it is to possess and use. For example, the penalties of possessing morphine (listed as a Schedule II prescription drug below) are generally harsher than the penalties for possessing something like Ativan (listed as a Schedule IV prescription drug below).
Here’s a look at some examples of each classification.
Schedule II Prescription Drugs
Schedule II prescription drugs include:
- Morphine
- Fentanyl
- Opium
- Amphetamines
Schedule III Prescription Drugs
Some Schedule III prescription drugs include:
- Anabolic steroids
- Ketamine
- Codeine
- Some types of hydrocodone combinations
Schedule IV Prescription Drugs
Some Schedule IV prescription drugs are:
- Xanax
- Ativan
- Soma
- Klonopin
What to Do if You’re Caught With Prescription Drugs Without a Prescription
Because possessing prescription drugs can be a felony, it’s important that you talk to a lawyer about the possible consequences of a conviction. Having a felony conviction on your record can prevent you from getting a job, finding a decent place to live, or even obtaining credit.
If you or someone you care about has been accused of possessing illicit drugs, call us right away at 847-920-4540 for a free case review. We may be able to help you… And the sooner you call, the more time we’ll have to put together a defense strategy that gets you the best possible outcome.
