Florida regulates prescription medication thoroughly. Controlled substances laws in Florida prevent people from possessing drugs that could be dangerous without a valid prescription.
Additionally, people typically cannot transfer their medication to others, as that behavior may constitute unlawful drug distribution. In fact, the state might even pursue charges against people who have a valid prescription but obtain their medication from the wrong source.
Only licensed providers can dispense drugs
Contrary to what people sometimes assume, a prescription does not provide carte blanche permission to do anything and everything with a medication. Patients must follow the recommendations of their physicians regarding how they use their medication. They should not double up their doses or drive after taking a potentially mind-altering substance.
They also need to obtain their medication from a licensed provider. Even in cases where they know that a friend, family member or neighbor has the same prescription that they do, they cannot legally purchase and use the medication previously dispensed to that other person.
People caught in the act of acquiring medication from an unregulated source or possessing medication that a pharmacist dispensed to someone else could be at risk of prosecution. Despite having a valid prescription, the manner in which they obtained the medication is still potentially a violation of the law.
Patients accused of misconduct with their prescription drugs are at risk of serious penalties. Reviewing what led to prescription drug charges can help people understand the claims against them and begin developing a criminal defense strategy that could help them avoid a conviction or minimize the penalties that the courts impose.