Prescription Drug Charges In Colorado
Doctors prescribe narcotics, benzodiazepines, amphetamines, barbiturates, or methylphenidates when these medications are necessary to treat a patient’s severe pain, anxiety, or other illness-related symptoms. These substances are meant for use only under carefully controlled circumstances under the supervision of a medical professional.
Unfortunately, some medications have a high likelihood of addiction and abuse, resulting in unprescribed usage, prescription fraud, illegal distribution, and other criminal behaviors.
Facing a prescription drug crime in Colorado is serious, even if you thought using a medication rather than a street drug was harmless.
Contact our Colorado Springs drug crimes lawyer to discuss your legal options. Schedule your free case evaluation today.
When Do Prescription Drugs Become Illegal?
It’s not illegal to properly use a prescription drug that’s prescribed to you by a doctor; however, prescription drug activity becomes unlawful under the following circumstances:
- Taking a prescription medication that’s not prescribed to you
- Obtaining a controlled substance through fraudulent means
- Forging or altering a doctor’s prescription order
- Concealing facts, such as obtaining a prescription from a provider when you’ve already received the same prescription from one or more other doctors (doctor shopping)
- Using a false identity to obtain prescription medications
- Unlawful possession
- Creating counterfeit prescriptions, labels, or medications
- Illegal distribution or sale
Colorado Revised Statutes 18-18-415 makes using fraudulent means to obtain prescription medications a criminal activity by stating the following:
“No person shall obtain a controlled substance or procure the administration of a controlled substance by fraud, deceit, misrepresentation, or subterfuge; or by the forgery or alteration of an order; or by the concealment of a material fact; or by the use of a false name or the giving of a false address.”
Understanding Prescription Fraud Charges In Colorado
Prescription fraud in Colorado is a Level 4 drug felony. A conviction could result in up to one year in jail and fines of up to $100,000. Aggravating factors, such as previous convictions or a conviction while on parole, may substantially increase the penalties.
Possessing a large quantity of prescription drugs in Colorado or selling prescription medications to a minor escalates the severity of the crime and could result in a level 1 felony drug charge. Additional aggravating circumstances, such as selling prescription drugs near a school, selling while on parole, or using a firearm while committing a prescription drug offense, also escalate the charges and penalties upon conviction.
A conviction for a level 1 felony drug charge for distributing illegal prescription medications could result in a sentence of eight to 32 years in prison and fines ranging from $5,000 to $1 million.
How Can a Colorado Prescription Drug Charge Attorney Help Me?
If you’ve been charged with a prescription drug offense for prescription fraud or possession with intent to distribute, you need an immediate, aggressive defense to avoid a life-altering conviction.
Depending on the circumstances of your case, a skilled drug crimes attorney in Colorado Springs can mount a strong defense, such as proving that you had a valid prescription, you were unaware that you possessed a controlled substance, someone else’s medications were on your property but not in your control, or a procedural problem occurred in your case, such as illegal search and seizure, entrapment, or a chain of custody violation.
Call Anaya Law Group at (719) 227-0007 to speak to a Colorado Springs drug crime defense attorney for prompt action and a vigorous defense in your case.