Prescription drug charges are serious business. You might think you have nothing to worry about if you do not currently take medication. Contrary to popular belief, not all prescription drug charges are valid. There are a variety of factors that come into play, such as a prior history of drug use, medical records, having a valid prescription, location/property of drugs, etc.
If law enforcement pulls you over or apprehends you for drug possession, you will need more than your current prescription. Drug charges are challenging to overcome, but the right defense tactics can make managing the situation easier. Even if the charges are later discharged, there is still the impact of having a prescription drug arrest on your criminal record.
Watch your behavior
From the first moment of interaction, you should act politely and respectfully towards law enforcement. Your words and actions from that point forth are usable as evidence that may help or hurt your prescription drug defense. Do not offer any information besides your name, birthdate and other legal details that could become evidence without having a legal representative present.
Know your rights
Police officers must follow the law when performing their duties. That does not mean mistreatment and abuse do not occur during some suspect apprehensions. Fortunately, defendants who suffer violations of their rights can pursue legal recourse in their drug defense. Learn your rights and use resources to protect them. For example, common issues that often come up in drug defense cases involve illegal searches and lack of probable cause. The Fourth Amendment in the U.S. Constitution protects citizens against unlawful evidence searches, missing probable cause, thus providing a successful defense path for many prescription drug charge cases.