Prescription Drug DUI Blog

Posted on May 27, 2014 in DUI Drugs

When you are sick, you go to the doctor and if needed, they will provide you with a prescription. Now depending on the drug prescription, they will also advise you to not drive or drink while on this medication. Listen to these professionals, because this advice may save you from a DUI.

Some of you might be thinking, “If I have a prescription I can’t get into trouble”. In the state of Arizona, you could be at risk for a DUI if you operate a vehicle after consuming any of the following:

· A prescription drug

· A combination of prescription drug and alcohol

· A combination of prescription drugs

· A combination of a prescription drug and an over-the-counter medication

· A combination of prescription drugs and recreational drugs

A common misconception of a DUI is that it is not solely in association with alcohol or illegal drugs. Law enforcement can pull over anyone they feel is under the influence of any substance, which includes a doctor prescribed drug. Some signs of impairment that police officers look for are: swerving between lanes, speeding, and not maintaining speed. As youcan see, these signs are habits even a sober driver may accidentally do, and these poor driving habits only increase with intoxication.

If you do get pulled over for suspicious driving, the officer will evaluate your behavior and may ask you to perform a sobriety test to determine if you’re DUI. We have highlighted many times in this information blog that you do not have to comply with the officer’s request to perform any sobriety tests. Instead, politely but firmly ask to speakwith your attorney, and then call us at the Rosenstein Law Group at 480-248-7666.

For your reference the most common drugs associated with prescription drug DUI’s are anti-anxiety medications and sleep aids. The following prescription medications are ones to be cautious operating machinery while taking: Vicodin, Valium, Xanax, Percocet, and Hydrocodone.

Prescription drug DUI’s are slightly different from standard alcohol-related DUI’s. This is why it is important to speak with an attorney who is well-versed in this complex area of law. Attorney CraigRosenstein has stayed in the forefront of this fast growing DUI defense area and has helped numerous clients in extremely complex cases of prescription drug DUI’s.