Many drug crimes involve flagrantly illegal activities. It is always illegal to possess, manufacture or distribute prohibited drugs. It is also illegal to engage in certain behaviors with prescription medication.
People may be aware that they cannot drive after taking certain medications or give their medication to other people. They may avoid such overtly illegal behavior. What they may not understand is that perfectly innocent choices can make them potentially look like a criminal to law enforcement professionals. One common choice that those with prescribed medications make can leave them vulnerable to prosecution in some circumstances.
Repackaging prescriptions can lead to charges
Some people find the prescription vials that come from a pharmacy rather unsightly. Others have a hard time organizing their medications and could forget to take crucial prescriptions on time without a special system. There could even be worries about friends, family members or caregivers trying to steal certain medication if it remains in a labeled container.
Some people use a multi-day pill organizer so that they know what drugs to take and when. Some patients simply choose packaging that they find more attractive, easy to access or secure than these bright cylindrical tubes typically provided by pharmacies.
Particularly in scenarios where people leave their homes with medication, taking pills out of their pharmaceutical packaging and putting them into other containers can lead to criminal charges. In fact, even federal resources about storing and organizing medications advise people to keep their medication in the original containers.
Despite those admonishments, many people put aesthetics or convenience ahead of safety when it comes to their medications. They may then end up putting themselves or other people at risk.
Those caught by police officers while in possession of medication not in its original packaging might be at risk of prosecution. After all, they cannot prove where they obtained the medication or that they have a valid prescription for it.
Some people even attempt to board airplanes with medication in new packaging, which could bring them to the attention of federal law enforcement authorities. Others may unintentionally endanger their loved ones by asking them to pick up or drop off medication already moved to new containers.
Avoiding minor mistakes that can lead to drug charges is typically the best option. With that said, those facing allegations because of seemingly minor mistakes may require support as they plan a response to those charges, and that’s okay.