Altering a prescription may be criminal conduct

On Behalf of | Oct 30, 2020 | Drug Charges

There is usually nothing inherently wrong with taking prescription medication to manage chronic or acute pain. Eventually, though, your body may adapt, requiring you to take more medication to achieve similar outcomes. 

Altering a prescription to obtain a greater number of pain pills may constitute criminal conduct. After all, possessing a controlled substance without a valid prescription is a third-degree felony in Florida. 

Forging or altering a prescription

In Florida, it is illegal to obtain a prescription for a controlled substance using misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, subterfuge or deception. While writing your own prescription without authorization likely violates the law, you probably do not have to go that far. Even changing the dosage or quantity of a prescription may land you in legal jeopardy. 

Possessing a prescription pad

In an attempt to obtain controlled substances illegally, some individuals purchase blank prescription pads. Having one of these pads without legal authorization is against the law, though. If you have possession of a prescription pad, prosecutors may charge you with a first-degree misdemeanor. 

Attempting to violate the law

It is important to note that success is not an element of prescription drug fraud in the Sunshine State. Merely attempting to obtain a prescription in violation of the law may constitute a crime. Furthermore, the potential punishment for attempted prescription fraud is the same as successfully forging or altering a prescription. 

Clearly, forging a prescription for a controlled substance is a legally risky thing to do. Whether prosecutors allege you violated the law or simply tried to violate it, you probably have some options for defending yourself. 

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