Legal Matters Related To Injury Or Side Effects Of Incorrect Drug Usage

By Author: Boyd Rankin
Total Articles: 77
Comment this article

We all at some time or the other, suffer from medical ailments. We might have some medical problems which could be passed genetically or heredity wise or we could develop some lifestyle allergies due to our environmental surroundings. To keep them under check, our doctor might prescribe us some drugs after properly examining us. Unfortunately, many people when they overhear conversations about the effects of the drugs develop a tendency to take them. They view them as shortcuts to resolve their own problems which are not medical in nature but rather are performance related at work, school or even at sports. What they don't understand is that in doing so, not only they are breaking the law, but are also taking high risk of suffering from the side effects of these drugs. Also, taking drugs without the doctor's prescription is a legal punishable offense and a person can either go to jail or serve community service time.

Legality of taking prescription drugs without a doctor's recommendation

Taking prescription drugs that haven't been recommended by a doctor is just as illegal as taking street drugs. People think ...
... it will help them increase their work productivity and enjoy life better. Further they think that since their family member or relative is taking these drugs as per doctor's advice, it is legal and alright to consume them. What they routinely fail to understand is the fact that prescription drugs are recommended only for the patient who has undergone a thorough checkup by a medical doctor or physician. The doctor has prescribed the correct dose with a list of instructions when to take, and what to avoid consuming, for helping that specific patient. It is not meant as a generic "magic pill" for anyone. Any other person who takes them is on the wrong side of the law and can face legal consequences if found guilty of such activities.

Street drugs

Another category of drug users are those who buy and sell street drugs. These drugs are declared illegal in many states and are sold and bought via underground market. Drug smuggling is a recognized crime in many jurisdictions and any person who is found in possession of such illegal street drugs is likely to face a long time imprisonment. Often, it is a non bailable offense in many states. A person possessing these will either have to serve jail time or spend many months in a rehabilitation center, if she is found to be a routine drug abuser in medical test. She can even face both.

Drug Abuse and its legal consequences

The most commonly used prescription drugs fall into three classes namely, Opioids which are used to treat pain or relieve coughs or diarrhea. Central Nervous System (CNS) Depressants

Is used to treat anxiety, tension, panic attacks, and sleep disorders. Stimulants increase brain activity, resulting in greater alertness, attention, and energy. These drugs are consistently used in "recreational" activities by drug abusers to achieve "higher" state of mental alertness and creativity. Many of these drugs are declared banned by law and can be prosecuted by law enforcement authorities.

The likelihood that someone will commit a crime or be a victim of a crime gets high with drug abuse. People who drive after high dose of "recreational" drugs might not concentrate on driving properly leading to a car crash from over speeding. Further, if they do so under alcohol intoxication, they can get arrested or even land up in jail if their blood tests reveal signs of illegal drug consumption.

The Article is written by www.upcounsel.com providing san francisco business lawyer, san francisco small business lawyer and SF business lawyer. Visit for more information www.upcounsel.com