The criminal record that comes with the possession of prescription pharmaceuticals that aren’t prescribed to you is something that can stick for the rest of your life. In some cases, getting caught with prescription pills in Georgia can result in you being arrested and sentenced to time in jail.
What is considered unauthorized possession?
In addition to being in possession of a different person’s prescription, unauthorized possession of prescription drugs includes when someone has an excessive amount of medication, even if they have been prescribed it in a lower dose.
It’s illegal across the United States to possess a prescription drug that you’re not authorized to have. The crime can come with significant financial consequences.
If you’re caught with prescription meds in your possession and you don’t have the authority to have them, there’s a good chance that you’ll be hit with either misdemeanor or felony drug charges. The severity of the charges depends on several factors including the type of medication, the amount and the conditions of the possession.
After being caught with prescription meds without proper authority, you might be required to undergo treatment, and your drug use may be monitored. In some instances, the individual caught with the prescription may have their driver’s license temporarily suspended.
State and federal schedule classifications
The federal schedule classification of different prescription pharmaceuticals given by the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) is based on the particular risks that the drug presents and how easy it is for someone to become addicted. These classifications range from Schedule II to Schedule V on the controlled substance list.
It’s important to remember that drug laws are quite different from state to state. The penalties depend on the substance statutes at the state level as well as the federal schedule classification.
With the addictive and dangerous nature of many medications, it’s important that anyone with a prescription takes care to keep it from falling into someone else’s hands. In fact, you are in many cases required by law to keep your prescription secure.