There are numerous legitimate reasons for taking prescription drugs. Doctors in New York and throughout the nation prescribe medication every day as a means of treating a plethora of health-related conditions. Included in the various types of drugs people take to help overcome mental or physical health problems, opioids rank high among those most commonly prescribed; however, they also rank high among medications that often lead to criminal drug charges.
Opioids generally work by binding spinal cord and brain receptors. This is makes them a drug of choice when doctors are trying to help patients alleviate severe pain. Many opioids are derived from natural plant materials, such as morphine and codeine, which come from poppy plants.
Problems arise when people use morphine to create synthetic drugs, such as heroin, which are often then illegally sold on the street. Some drugs, like hydrocodone and oxycodone are hybrid drugs that are synthetically manufactured in makeshift laboratories using natural materials. Nearly 100 percent of people throughout the world who use hydrocodone reside in the United States. Fentanyl is an opioid drug that has been quite successful in helping cancer patients alleviate pain. It is estimated to be nearly 100 times more powerful than morphine, and sadly, it is also often the source of drug overdose.
One of the major problems associated with opioid drugs is that they are often highly addictive. Can a New York resident or any other person use opioids without facing drug charges? Yes; however, any man or woman who winds up in handcuffs regarding prescription drug issues should know that he or she is guaranteed the opportunity to present a strong defense in the hope of avoiding conviction.
