Okay... here's a big one.
I was not feeling well one day last week and could not carry my purse because my shoulders were killing me... My daughter and I were at my brother-in-laws surprise birthday party and I asked that she hold some of my medication (Vicodin). She placed them in a regular aspirin container (from my pill box) and dispensed them to me when needed (she is a board and state certified Medical Assistant and is going for her degree in nursing). We all know that we when we are in pain we sometimes don't always know the times or the time frame that we ought to be taking our meds. Sometime (personally) I have placed pills out and forgotten that I had taken them.
Anyway... she was pulled over later that evening for driving erratically (she swerved a curb). They tested her for everything and she was fine. However, they searched her purse and found these. They asked if she had a script and why she had them... paniced she stated that she had taken them for her wisdom teeth (back in 2001) forgetting that she had placed them in there for me that evening in the nervous panic stated that she was in. Now they are wanting to prosecute her for holding my medications that I had furnished the prescriptions for and the pharmacy records of all my medications for the past 18 months.
I am concerned now that her nursing is DONE because of this she won't be able to practice. I didn't even consider this a thought being that I had the prescription and all. I guess from what an attorney friend stated this morning to me we needed to have something like a Limited Co-Guardianship in order for her to carry the medications for me at times.
Have any of you had this happen? Do any of you sometimes have your husband or friend or family member carry pain medications for you?
Please, I would ask that you all reconsider this or at least check with your state or local police or laws before doing so.
Any in put on this would be muchly appreciated !!!!
Thank you all again,
Gracious! That's a horrible situation. I've never considered this happening.....and I'm so sorry that you guys are facing this.
Best of Luck with this.....it's truely rediculous! I so hope it doesn't affect her career.
Olive,
I haven't a clue. I think you need a lawyer since they are making a big deal out of this. It seems you could really get tied up in knots with just being honest. A lawyer could probably blow a hole in their supposed case right away. If you do get a lawyer, then also ask how you protect your friend's career. Then, get the paperwork drawn up. If you go ahead and get this paperwork written up right away, then maybe they will get the case thrown out by a judge who doesn't want to be bothered with the ridiculous.
I don't believe it is against the law to be carrying medications. It is using them and driving under the influence that's against the law. Find out what the exact law is in your state. It sounds like some cop was looking for an easy bust to make his quota. That does not mean he has a good case. If it is obvious that you are willing to fight it, they might just drop it.
It is a sticky situation. I couldn't control my daughter's meds and that was one of the reasons I put her in a residential program. I knew that if she misused them in any way, then they could hold me responsible because she was living with me.
It is against the law to be holding meds that ARE NOT PRESCRIBED TO YOU!!!! The reason why is because of drugs like vicoden and other extremely strong pain meds, this also includes ritialin, unless it is for your child. LEGAL Drugs have become quite the selling item on the black market. People get their scripts filled and will sell them for money. There was a woman in my area arrested, charged and convicted for selling her pain meds and her child's ritalin med. Housewives are now grounding and snorting ritalin for an energy boost. This is no lie, this is why the police are harrassing your daughter. You need to find a real good lawyer and get ahold of the tests they did on your daughter to show she was not using the drug. I am sorry for what you are going through right now, and I hope the police end up dropping the charges, but please get a lawyer real soon. meme