Opiate addiction is a growing problem affecting thousands of people across the country every day. Although you may already be aware how opiate addiction affects financial and other aspects of life. You might not be aware of the scope of legal problems that an opiate addiction may cause.
Opiates as Controlled Substances
All opiates are controlled substances under United States law. This means that people are not allowed to possess them without a prescription for their use, nor may they produce or distribute them without very specific licensing and oversight. Additionally, using opiates in a manner other than that prescribed is also illegal.
Persons suffering from opiate addiction almost never follow these strict controls, placing them on the wrong side of the law and creating a high potential for legal problems. These people need treatment to avoid these violations of the Controlled Substances Act.
Why Addicts Commit Crimes
Opiate addicts may steal in order to pay for their drugs.
It is well known that any addiction can quickly take over your life. Opiate addiction is no exception and may even create criminal activity in a more drastic manner than other substances of abuse, because of the very powerful nature of opiate dependence. Regardless of the crime attributed to an opiate addict, it is clear that it is a direct result of an opiate addiction.
In fact, according to the National Criminal Justice Reference Service, opiate use is the main cause of high crime rates in addicted individuals and addiction treatment is the best method of reducing this crime. To avoid circumstances that will lead to you being a criminal, call 800-442-6158 Who Answers? for opiate addiction treatment.
Crimes Related to Opiate Addiction
Aside from the possession, production, or distribution of opiates that violates the Controlled Substances Act, there are a number of crimes commonly associated with opiate addictions. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, nearly twenty percent of criminals admit to committing crimes to get money for drugs. Some of the more common crimes associated with opiate addiction include:
- Prostitution
- Illegal sale of drugs
- Transportation of illegal substances
- Public intoxication
- Filing false police reports
- Perjury
- Driving under the influence
- Burglary
- Robbery
- Assault
- Murder
- These crimes range from minor offenses to capital crimes
The consequences of these crimes can be severe. While some are penalized by fines or community service, most come with lengthy prison sentences, or even the death penalty. These consequences are something that everyone wants to avoid, a feat best achieved by getting treatment for your addiction as soon as possible.
Avoiding Legal Problems with Treatment
The only real way to avoid legal problems associated with an opiate addiction is to end that addiction. The only way to accomplish this is to receive professional opiate abuse treatment from specialized medical professionals.
Call us today at 800-442-6158 Who Answers? and let our counselors assist you in finding the treatment services that best meet your needs and goals. You can end your risk of legal troubles and begin the road to recovery. Take the first step now, before it is too late.
