Prescription Drug (Pain Pill) Use on the Rise in Tampa Bay Florida

St. Petersburg Criminal Attorney and Former State Prosecutor Melinda Morris of the Morris Law Firm discusses the how the rise of Prescription Drug (Pain Pill) usage may land more users in jail.

Issue:

More and more U.S. workers are under the influence of pain killers (Prescription Drugs) which could lead to workplace accidents, action by employers (up to and including firing), and criminal charges.

Quest Diagnostics, a leader in diagnostic testing, information, and services, recently reported that when viewing the statistics on U.S. workers in their Quest Diagnostics Drug Testing Index that prescription pain pill usage had risen 40% between 2005 and 2009.

Prescription pain medication, referred to as opiates, includes oxycodone (OxyContin), codeine, morphine, and hydrocodone (Vicodin) among others.  The use of these drugs jumped 18% in Quest’s tests from 2008-2009 indicating that more and more U.S. workers were being prescribed pain killers or were taking them recreationally and illegally.

Why This Matters To You:

The sharp rise in Prescription Drug use has put employers on alert.  Employers can reserve the right to have a physician examine an employee that appears to be impaired.  An employer may take action to suspend or even fire an employee who is impaired.

Additionally, individuals taking Prescription Drugs recreationally may not only be fired, but the employer may also notify law enforcement.  In this case, the individual may face criminal charges if they are found to possess pain killers without a prescription.

In Tampa Bay, law enforcement is aware of the rise of Prescription Drug use and continues to crack down on individual users, pain clinics, dealers and traffickers.

What To Do Next:

If you have been arrested for Drug Trafficking or Prescription Drug Trafficking, contact a St. Petersburg Drug Trafficking Attorney to discuss possible defenses and specific strategies that may exist in your case.  Call the Morris Law Firm at 727-388-4736 to discuss your case directly with an attorney, or fill out our Online Form to be contacted for a Free Initial Consultation.  The Morris Law Firm can help and has specific knowledge and experience in defending Drug Trafficking or Prescription Drug Trafficking offenders throughout Pinellas County and the entire Tampa Bay, FL Area (St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Tampa, Hillsborough, Pasco, Bradenton, Manatee, and Sarasota).