‘If you are feeling sick, you may consider talking to friends, family members or even roommates about sharing certain types of medication. If you have a headache, for example, you may ask someone if they have any Tylenol. With many over-the-counter medications, this is fine, and people can certainly share them as they wish.
But what about prescription drugs? Say that you have a close family member who has been given a valid prescription by their doctor and picked up the medication at a pharmacy, so everything was done legally. If you believe you have the same disease or similar symptoms, you may be tempted to ask if you can try some of their medication and see if it helps. Would this also be allowed under current drug laws?
Sharing is often illegal
No, this is typically not legal, and it could violate both state and federal laws. Sharing prescription medications can be problematic for both the person who distributes the medication and the person who possesses it without a valid prescription.
The thing to remember is that these are still controlled substances. They can be authorized by a doctor, so they fit into a different category than many other illegal drugs. But if they are not used within the bounds of that prescription, and by the appropriate person, then that is still illegal drug use or drug possession.
In some cases, people think that they are just trying to help a family member or a friend, and they inadvertently violate the law. Those who are facing serious drug charges must be aware of all the legal defense options at their disposal.