Prescription medications are drugs you can only get legally with a “valid prescription” from a licensed health care professional. A valid prescription means a doctor, dentist or nurse practitioner (or other authorized professional) wrote it for an actual medical reason.
It’s written specific to your condition, with the specific medication, how much to take and how to use it. It’s illegal to buy or have these types of drugs without a valid prescription. This is especially true for “controlled substances,” which have a high risk of abuse.
Drugs you need a prescription for
In Florida, as in the rest of the United States, many medications require a valid prescription. It’s not just pain medications. Here’s a list of common types of drugs that legally require a prescription:
- Opioid pain medications: Such as oxycodone, hydrocodone and morphine
- Benzodiazepines: Including Xanax, Valium, and Ativan
- Stimulants: Like Adderall and Ritalin (often used for ADHD)
- Certain sleep aids: For example, Ambien and Lunesta
- Some antidepressants: Such as Prozac, Zoloft and Paxil
- Antibiotics: All antibiotics require a prescription
- Blood pressure medications: Including ACE inhibitors and beta-blockers
- Diabetes medications: Such as insulin and metformin
Having these medications without a valid prescription is illegal in Florida. The consequences can be serious, from very high fines to jail time, depending on the type and amount of the drug.
Dangers of buying prescription drugs illegally
While simply possessing a prescription drug without a valid prescription is illegal, possessing larger quantities of certain controlled substances can lead to “trafficking” charges. This is a much more serious offense.
In Florida, a drug trafficking charge, at its minimum level for drugs like oxycodone and hydrocodone (four grams to under 14 grams), carries a mandatory minimum sentence of three years in prison and a $50,000 fine. The penalties increase significantly with larger amounts of other drugs.
Don’t just buy medication without a valid prescription or even buy from pill mills. When authorities catch you, you face serious legal consequences. It’s always safer and smarter to obtain medications through legitimate medical channels with a valid prescription from a licensed health care professional. This protects your health and keeps you on the right side of the law.
