One in ten high school seniors have used narcotic painkillers to get high. When it comes to Oxycontin, that number seems to be growing among young adults. According to a report from the Sacramento Bee, this drug provides a high that is attracting more and more people.

Prescription drugs are the new drugs of choice. Not only in California, but across the country. The stigma associated with pills isn’t nearly as dark as the stigma associated with other drugs like heroin and cocaine. We all have a picture of what a “junkie” looks like and it’s rarely someone who is popping pills.

The belief is that this flawed image of what an addict looks like may be contributing to the growing number of Oxycontin users and its apparent acceptance among younger adults. It’s viewed as a “party” drug instead of the highly addictive substance it truly is.

One user reports the high is similar to “someone hugging you from the inside out.” In other words—it’s a feel good drug. However, what can start out as a feel-good high can end with pain and nausea as you try to kick a habit that grows quickly out of control.

One pill taken at a party can quickly turn into a habit that requires hundreds of dollars a week. The body quickly builds a tolerance to narcotics like this, making it harder and harder to get the same high. The most effective way of handling an oxy addiction? Methadone—the same drug prescribed to heroin addicts.

Although the face of heroin and cocaine abuse may not match the face of OxyContin abuse, the penalties for using it often does. Possession of a prescription drug like this without a legitimate prescription is punishable by jail time, depending on how much you are caught with. If you are charged with attempting to fill a prescription not intended for you or fraudulent in some other way, you can face additional charges.

It isn’t unheard of for people who have never been exposed to the criminal justice system to experience their first exposure at the hands of drug abuse. If you were dabbling in oxy use and got caught, your disillusionment of this being a harmless drug has likely come crashing down around you. Luckily, however, if this is your first offense we may be able to get you some help.

As your exposure to the courts increases, a judge’s leniency decreases. In other words, if this is your first run in with the law, we may be able to work out a Proposition 36 or a deferred judgment. Both of these involve drug treatment and help for your possible drug problem in lieu of jail time.

If you’re facing possession of Oxycontin or any other controlled substance and need help—contact our offices today.

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It’s not unusual at all to see drug deals happen in plain sight in the Los Angeles neighborhood known as Skid Row. This area, according to Wikipedia, contains the largest concentrated population of homeless in the country. Crime here is commonplace and has been for sometime.

A new effort by law enforcement, however, seeks to eliminate some of the bigger named dealers in the area, however. Due to overcrowding and other factors, these dealers serve notoriously short sentences for their run ins. The LAPD seeks to change that.

According to NPR, law enforcement is seeking an injunction that would allow them to arrest certain dealers on site for being present in the Skid Row area. There are 80 well known dealers that will be placed on this black list, prohibited from even entering the neighborhood.

If caught in violation of this injunction, the dealers will be sentenced to 6 month behind bars if the cops get their way. Although this does seem harsh, when you consider these 80 dealers and the far reaching impact they have on the homeless and addicted population, the police think it’s more than reasonable.

The problem, they state, is that the system doesn’t require these drug dealers to serve any significant amount of time in jail. The NPR report states that they have actually stopped running from the police, knowing their penalty won’t be that bad.

If the dealers were prosecuted within every extent of the law, they might do more time. A charge of selling drugs is typically a felony and carries about 3 to 5 years. However, plea bargaining and other factors mean even well known dealers rarely face this kind of sentence.

Being accused of selling or even being in possession of drugs can be a very humbling experience. No matter what neighborhood you are in, being arrested is no walk in the park. With prison sentences and exorbitant fines possible, you would be right to be concerned when facing charges like this.

If you are facing drug charges and need legal assistance, contact us today. We can give you some free legal advice and additional information on your options.

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A West Hollywood doctor is being accused of running a “pill mill”. The doctor is said to have averaged about 15 prescriptions per day, writing them for drugs commonly used by addicts. The doctor is now facing federal charges, as is his office manager.

According to the L.A. Times, the feds were alerted to the psychiatrist’s practices when the police found someone selling Adderall on Craigslist. This dealer stated that the doctor had prescribed them and that he had written numerous prescriptions without seeing the “patient”.

Apparently, the drugs of choice for those receiving the good doctor’s prescriptions included Adderall, Oxycodone, and Hydrocodone, all highly potent and regularly seen in the illegal drug trade.

The office manager, also facing charges, is suspected of telling the doctor who needed a prescription and even filling them out for the doctor to sign. Both men were said to have played active roles in the operation according to a 100 page complaint including information from patients and undercover police.

While these two are facing federal charges, drug charges involving prescription drugs at the state level are on the rise as well. As a matter of fact, prescription drug abuse is at an all time high across the country.

There are many reasons that prescription drugs are a popular choice and much of it has to do with the ease at which they can be found. In addition, despite the growing stigma, those people who have problems with prescription drugs don’t always consider themselves “drug addicts.”

When facing charges like possession of a controlled substance or possession with intent to deliver, the penalties are a quick wake up call to those who have been misleading themselves about the seriousness of prescription drug abuse.

Whether you are caught with valium or oxycodone, you could be facing months and even years behind bars. Luckily, if this is your first offense there are options available to you.

If you are facing charges involving prescription drugs, contact our attorneys immediately.  We can give you some valuable and helpful advice and tell you what legal defense options you might have.

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In a strange and scary news story, that cocaine you purchased may not be exactly what you expected.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported this week that the vast majority of cocaine coming into the country and California is diluted with a drug typically used in large animals. Levamisole is a horse and cattle dewormer that is showing up in cocaine across the country.

In humans, Levamisole can have devastating effects and the people at San Francisco General Hospital have seen some of these effects first hand. Auto-immune problems and serious skin conditions were found there and later determined to be related to Levamisole poisoning.

Diluting cocaine is nothing new. Drug traffickers in foreign countries and domestic dealers use a variety of substances to “cut” cocaine and other drugs as a way of increasing the weight and their potential profit. The Chronicle reports the suspected reason for Levamisole use is its alleged ability to maximize the effects of cocaine, leaving users none the wiser.

San Francisco General claims that out of 200 patients who tested positive for cocaine recently, 90% of them also tested positive for the veterinary drug. However, most of them did not become ill. Scientists are now looking at why some of the users showed symptoms while others didn’t.

Levamisole is said to cause a reduction in white blood cells. Symptoms of the resulting auto-immune condition include fever, sores, swollen glands, and skin problems.

The things people go through when battling an addiction can be quite sobering. Sometimes admittance to the hospital or even an arrest can be a blessing in disguise. For people who have serious drug problems, there are options available when facing criminal charges.

The fact is: most drug crimes in California are felonies. However, depending on the circumstances of your case you could quality for Proposition 36 drug treatment or a diversion program.

If you are facing charges and fairly certain you will be found guilty, we may be able to work out a deal with the prosecution. Drug treatment is one avenue that often satisfies the court and the defendant. However, there are other options available as well.

If you are facing possession or even distribution charges, contact me today to discuss your case. I may be able to give you some free legal advice and get you on the right track for positive results on your day in court.

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