Prescription Drug Charges Lawyer

If you or a loved one has prescription drug charges filed against them for illegal use or distribution, obtaining prescriptions by fraud, using forged prescriptions, sharing your prescriptions with others, illegally prescribing drugs or operating a vehicle while under the influence of a prescription drug in Williamson County, you could be facing felony criminal drug charges.

Rapidly Growing Drug Problem

Prescription drug abuse is the fastest growing drug problem in the U.S. According to the Drug Enforcement Agency 77% of abusers are getting their supply from a family member or from their parents medicine cabinet. This is especially a problem with Texas teenagers and young people between the ages of 18 to 22. According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, nearly 7 million Americans are abusing prescription drugs. That’s more than the number who abuse heroin, cocaine, Ecstasy and hallucinogens combined.
Texas law enforcement agencies have reported the problem doubling in size over the last four years in some areas of the state. According to a recent report from the Drug Policy Alliance, accidental poisoning due to drug overdose is the third leading cause of injury-related deaths, behind vehicle accidents and suicide. The report revealed that between 1999 and 2007, the number of Texas deaths by accidental drug overdose increased by more than 250 percent, from 790 to 1,987.

Obtaining prescription drugs illegally can be relatively easy. They can be readily acquired from the hundreds of the cash only pain clinics around the state. This type of facility, many times located in a strip mall or commercial location, is sometimes referred to as “pill mills”. These often unsupervised clinics working with pharmacies pass out large numbers of addictive narcotics without, in many cases, reliable medical examinations.

Most Commonly Abused Prescription Drugs

There are dozens of prescription drugs that are being abused. Every day more than 2000 teenagers use a prescription drug for the first time without a doctor’s prescription. The following is a list of the most commonly abused:

Alpazolam (Xanax)
Hydrocodone (Vicodin, Lorcet, Lortab)
Oxycodone (Oxycontin, Percocet, Percodan)
Clonazepam (Klonopin)
Lorazepam (Ativan)
Cairsoprodol (Soma)
Diazepam (Valium)
Trazodone (Desyrel)
Methylphenidate (Ritalin)

Prescription drug abuse laws are currently undergoing change aimed at slowing the rate of prescription drug overdoses and the illegal drug trade. If you or someone you know is involved with prescription drug charges you need legal representation from a law firm with drug attorneys (link to the drug-attorney-williamson-co page) experienced with this type of crime. The board certified criminal lawyers Shawn Dick and Steven Hesse are experienced in defending pharmaceutical drug charges and indictments. They have dealt with drug crimes as prosecutors and as criminal defense attorneys. Being located in Georgetown gives them an extensive knowledge of the Williamson County Justice System. An initial consultation with an attorney of our law office is always free of charge. All information is kept strictly confidential.