| As the prescription drug industry has developed and | | | | physical withdrawal symptoms when drug use is |
| grown over the past 50 years, it has become | | | | discontinued. They may become desperate for more |
| increasingly more common for patients to be taking | | | | of the drug and seek out underground markets if they |
| one or more medications. These drugs can help to | | | | can no longer obtain the drug legally. If you find |
| stabilize a patient's illness, mental health, pain, injury, or | | | | yourself in this situation, you have become a victim of |
| other affliction. Pain medication in particular is a | | | | drug abuse. Over time you may increase your dosage |
| popularly prescribed drug for injuries and post-surgery | | | | to keep experiencing the same pleasurable effects, |
| recovery. While these drugs can do wonders for a | | | | which could cause you to experience feelings of |
| patient's recovery, they can also induce a drug | | | | disorientation, delirium, or other physical and mental |
| dependency that can be hard to kick once a patient's | | | | effects that make it dangerous to drive. |
| prescription runs out. | | | | If you are pulled over while under the influence of |
| | | | prescription drugs that you obtained illegally, you could |
| Effects on Your Driving | | | | find yourself arrested not only for a DUI but also for |
| Many prescription drugs have a sedative effect that | | | | illegal possession of a prescription drug. What started |
| can make it difficult to focus and react quickly, making | | | | out as a legal and necessary part of your medical |
| it risky to drive on medication. For some medications, | | | | recovery could turn into a slew of criminal charges that |
| trying to drive while medicated is equivalent to driving | | | | affect your future for years to come. |
| drunk. While most states do not have a specific law | | | | |
| against driving while medicated, if you are under the | | | | For More Information |
| influence of any drug while driving, you could be | | | | In most states it is illegal to drive under the influence of |
| arrested for a DUI. Whether the drug is legal or illegal, | | | | any substance, whether it be alcohol, an illegal drug, or |
| the police are typically more focused on how the | | | | a prescription drug. If you have been arrested for |
| substance negatively affects your driving | | | | driving under the influence of a prescription drug, |
| performance. | | | | consider contacting a DUI defense lawyer immediately |
| | | | to protect your rights. |
| Addiction and Illegal Possession | | | | To learn more about driving under the influence and |
| A second problem with prescription drugs is that | | | | preparing your defense, please visit the website of |
| individuals who have been on a certain medication for | | | | experienced Rhode Island DUI defense attorney |
| a long time may experience sudden mental and | | | | James Powderly today. |