Prescription drugs help with everything from anxiety and sleep issues to sexual performance problems and chronic pain. Modern medication can do many incredible things, but it also comes with a very steep price tag.
Every month, you have to pay your insurance premium. Then, you likely have a co-pay for the drug when you go to the pharmacy. In some cases, you may have to meet a deductible of thousands of dollars before your insurance will pay, which means you’ll have to pay for every single refill out-of-pocket.
It is natural for you to want to recoup some of your expenses when you finish your treatment or recover from an injury and no longer need your remaining medication. Unfortunately, trying to sell your unused medication to someone else could result in criminal prosecution.
Only licensed professionals can sell or dispense medications
State and federal laws make the distribution of prescription medication without a medical license a serious criminal offense. Selling your leftover pain pills to a co-worker or neighbor might constitute drug trafficking and result in major criminal charges. The prospect of you being charged with a crime is particularly high if you caused an accident or hurt someone else while under the influence of a prescription medication you weren’t prescribed by a licensed professional.
In fact, you don’t even have to make any money off of the transfer of the drugs to face the consequences. Just giving them to your spouse or your cousin could lead to a criminal charge if they get caught in possession of your unused medication. Understanding what you can and can’t do with prescription drugs can help you decide how to respond to the drug charges that you face.