beware of the prescription drug dui

Believe it or not, you could get arrested and be convicted of driving under the influence (DUI) without having a drop of alcohol to drink. These cases, when they don’t involve faulty breathalyzers, usually involved drugs—prescription and otherwise.

Many people are on prescription medications on a daily basis. From 2011 to 2014, almost half of U.S. citizens reported using at least 1 prescription drug in the past 30 days. Around 23% reported using 3 or more prescription drugs in the past 30 days. Using prescription meds has never been more common, which is why sometimes people can forget the effect it has on their bodies.

For example, someone who breaks a collarbone might still be able to drive, but their doctor might prescribe Vicodin for their pain. Usually, these bottles will have a warning telling people not to drive or operate heavy machinery when taking the medication.  If the person with the broken arm decides to risk a DUI by driving to a nearby drug store to refill the prescription, he or she would still be guilty of a DUI if an officer catches him or her.

Narcotic drugs and other medications that affect a person’s reaction time will do what ordinary alcohol might, meaning an officer will see someone swerving and assume they’ve been drinking. However, even if you have a prescription for your medication, unsafe driving can still lead to a DUI charge.

Make sure you talk to a skilled Virginia Beach DUI attorney as soon as possible if your prescription drug has led to a DUI investigation. Attorney Yates has more than 30 years of legal experience to offer your case. Let us see what we can do for you.

Contact us at (757) 491-8800 or fill out our online form to schedule a free case consultation today.