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Medications That Can Lead to a DUI Arrest

January 2, 2018 by Mike Worgul in Criminal Defense, DUI

Instances of impaired driving do not only occur as a result of drinking too much alcohol, they can also result from taking legal prescription medications. Understanding the dangers these drugs pose can help you avoid finding yourself charged with driving under the influence (DUI) in Pennsylvania. Once you are in this position, however, you will likely need the services of an experienced DUI lawyer to fight the charges against you. Pennsylvania DUI law equates legitimate prescription drugs obtained from your doctor on the same level as illegal drugs in terms of their ability to impair a driver.

If your future has been threatened due to a DUI charge in Pennsylvania, you need an experienced DUI lawyer to develop a strong defense on your behalf. At Worgul, Sarna & Ness, Criminal Defense Attorneys, LLC, we are able to provide effective advocacy to fight for the reduction or elimination of your DUI charges and penalties.

Impairment Due to Prescription Drugs

Many medications used for legitimate purposes have the potential to cause various effects on the body that produce impairment when it comes to the ability to safely drive a vehicle. These effects can include misjudging time or distance, impaired decision-making, slowed reaction times, sleepiness, and dizziness. If you find yourself accused of drugged driving, you will need the representation of a skilled DUI lawyer to provide a strong defense on your behalf.

Numerous drugs have the potential to induce a condition of drugged driving. These include many strong pain medications, in addition to drugs that treat insomnia, anxiety, ADHD, and other ailments. Prescriptions that can potentially put you in jeopardy for DUI include:

Hydrocodone
Adderall
Morphone
Codeine
Oxycontin
Lortab
Norco
Vicodin
Methadone
Ritalin
Seconal
Xanax
Oxycodone
Percocet
Secobarbital
Valium

At-Risk Individuals

You place your safety and the safety of others at risk if you drive while under the influence of prescribed medication that can potentially impair your motor and cognitive skills. Other medications that are less potent, but taken in doses higher or more frequent than prescribed, can also have a similar effect.

Older drivers are particularly susceptible to incurring a DUI as a result of using prescription drugs. With aging, the body may not break down certain drugs as quickly it did in the past. This can lead to accidental intoxication. Additionally, with the cognitive decline that accompanies aging, an older driver taking an improper dosage of prescribed drugs may become particularly vulnerable to driving while impaired.

If you find yourself in this position, a skilled DUI lawyer can provide you with an intelligent defense to fight prosecution’s charges against you.

Law Enforcement Evaluation

Law enforcement looks for behavior that indicates driver impairment involving intoxication resulting from drug use (prescribed or otherwise). These behaviors can include driving erratically, weaving, driving too slow, driving too closely to the next vehicle, speeding, or reckless driving.

As well, after your vehicle is stopped, law enforcement will look for personal characteristics and behaviors that indicate impairment due to drugs, such as glassy eyes and slurred speech.

The next step will involve your voluntary participation in a field sobriety test, followed by a blood or urine test.

Law enforcement in Pennsylvania may utilize the services of drug recognition evaluators (DRE) who implement a multi-step approach to test suspected drug-impaired drivers. A DRE may examine the pupils, take blood pressure and pulse, and look for indications of injection marks. A DRE may also perform separate field sobriety tests and ask you about any possible drug use.

In the end, you can be charged with a DUI in Pennsylvania if you were driving in an unsafe manner due to impairment caused by medications you have taken.

An Experienced Pittsburgh DUI Lawyer Can Help

If DUI charges are staring you down, you need an attorney who will stand by you every step of the way to counteract the prosecution’s case. You can depend on the Pittsburgh DUI attorneys of Worgul, Sarna & Ness, Criminal Defense Attorneys, LLC to fight vigorously for the best possible outcome on your behalf.