Recently we have had several clients present for psychotherapy treatment that are court stipulated to a drug program because of drug charges. Needless to say this is no real surprise. But what is surprising is the degree of charges and the customers we are seeing. For instance, among our clients could possibly be confused with just about any other hockey mom (perhaps a recent exception). She actually is white, upper middle class, college educated, and employed in a professional position. And even though she's drug trafficking charges, which are a felony, the drugs she had in her possession were for private use and were prescription (of course she didn't have a prescription). What is a lot more surprising is that she didn't have even a month's way to obtain the pain killer for someone for whom they could have been prescribed. here of this article would be to shed light on a few of the risks currently being taken by those abusing prescription medications.
Prescription drug abuse is the number one reason behind drug related death in Florida. According to a fresh York Times article dated June 14, 2008, the "Medical Examiners Commission found that the rate of deaths caused by prescription drugs was three times the rate of deaths caused by all illicit drugs combined." (Cave, D.). Yet this is often insufficient to dissuade new users from trying, and becoming physically influenced by, prescription pain medications. Even high profile deaths including Heath Ledger and Anna Nicole Smith have little impact on those abusing the substance. That is largely a result of substance abusers believing they're invulnerable and the false belief they will have a feeling of control over their ingestion of substances.
Many who use or abuse opiate based pain medications aren't even aware of its dependence potential. Most pain medications are manufactured from opium or a synthetic opiate, which is exactly the same main ingredient in heroin. Although tolerance (the necessity for more of the substance to have the desired effect) and withdrawal (physical and psychological symptoms caused by the lack of the substance) take longer to develop in prescription medications, physical dependence can and frequently does develop. But the purpose of this short article is to discuss drug law.
It is probably best to start with the lowest of crimes, simple possession of a substance. In this state the first offense is up to twelve months incarceration and an excellent of up to $1000.00. A second offense is incarceration for no less than 15 days no more than 24 months, and a minimum fine of $2500.00. A third offense results in at least 90 days in jail no more than three years, and a minimum fine of $5000.00. The penalties for cocaine base are much harsher, and penalties may vary depending on the kind of drug.
What's often misunderstood is the difference between possession and trafficking. It would seem to the average reader that trafficking involves moving large levels of a substance, or at the very least selling it to another individual. This is simply not the case. Trafficking charges are often predicated on weight. The weight for trafficking prescription medication is 28 grams. Now when this is applied to cocaine, it appears fair enough. 28 grams of cocaine will be a lot, and it might be reasonable to say it person is selling the drug. But 28 grams of a pain medication such as for example Percocet can be as little as 6 or 7 pills. And far of the weight of Percocet pills result from Tylenol. But when a person is caught with prescription drugs that is not theirs, the intent is irrelevant to charges.
Trafficking charges, even for a first offense, can carry a penalty as high as 25 years in prison. Even when the sentence is lighter (probation, house arrest, treatment) the offender is labeled a felon for the others of their lives. This affects their rights, capability to get and maintain employment, and to live a productive life.
In a social psychology class this author teaches on the psychology of drug abuse, unfair drug laws tend to be discussed. This is in the disproportionate penalties facing minorities. This is best illustrated by the sentencing of crack, versus regular cocaine. To put it simply, crack penalties for one gram mean 100 grams of powder cocaine. Additionally it is a the point that 50% of our prison population is for non-violent drug offenses. It seems a few of the sentencing laws are unfair.
I am not trying to excuse illicit and self destructive behavior. But to even consider sentencing someone dependent on pain medication or other prescription medications to prison and otherwise seriously damaging their life seems harsh. If any reader is interested in being active in reducing these mandatory sentencing guidelines, they are able to contact FAMM, which works to change a few of the unfair drug laws.
The purpose of this article would be to educate readers who may have a family member abusing prescription substances for some of the risks. These risks include possible physical dependence, overdose and death risk, and, what is often overlooked and is the main point of this article, incarceration and felony conviction for even relatively small amounts of a medication with out a prescription.