There are many situations in which people are tempted to share their medications. Often, they have very good intentions, and they’re just trying to help someone else, likely a person that they care about – a family member, a close friend, a roommate or someone else.
An example of this could be if someone gets their wisdom teeth removed or has another minor procedure. They may be given pharmaceutical painkillers to help them deal with the pain as they recover.
But if they don’t use all of those pills and someone else is dealing with a serious ailment, they may consider sharing the painkillers because they know it will help the other person and they have no further use for the pills anyway. If you’re considering this, why shouldn’t you do it?
It is actually illegal
When people think of drug distribution, they generally think of people selling drugs for money. This is something that is being done intentionally, with the full knowledge that it is illegal, and the goal is just financial gain.
In this sense, sharing medication is much different because there’s no intent and money doesn’t change hands. However, it is still illegal for someone who uses or possesses that medication to do so without a prescription. It’s also illegal to give these medications to someone who is not authorized to have them. Controlled substances, including many popular painkillers, can only be purchased or used with a valid prescription that provides authorization for a specific individual.
So, even with good intentions, you could find yourself facing serious legal charges. If you do, then you need to know about all of the defense options at your disposal.