Doctors and pharmacists are trusted professionals in our community that have people’s lives in their hands. Due to this responsibility, medical professionals are legally obligated to only prescribe and dispense medication for legitimate medical purposes. Illegally prescribing medications is a drug crime and can lead to jail time and other serious consequences.
According to Federal prosecutors, 60 medical professionals, including dentists, podiatrists, nurse practitioners, and pharmacists, were involved in illegally prescribing and distributing medications that lead to multiple deaths.
The medical professionals apparently illegally prescribed drugs to friends without proper examination, pulled teeth unnecessarily just to prescribe pain pills, and even traded drugs for sex. Many pain medication addicts in Ohio, Kentucky, and other states, were prescribed large amounts of oxycodone and other opioids.
Those indicted have been charged with illegally writing or filling prescriptions outside the course of medical practices and prescribing medications without legitimate reason.
In Ohio, prescription opioid overdose deaths have dropped 28% since 2001, but opioid addiction is still a major issue in America. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 218,000 died from prescription opioid overdose. In an effort to prevent these deaths, law enforcement officials have been cracking down on illegal prescriptions and other prescription drug crimes.
Under Ohio Rev. Code Sec. 2925.23, knowingly making a false statement in a prescription or intentionally selling or possessing a false or forged prescription is illegal and can result in fourth or fifth degree felony charges. If you are facing criminal drug charges relating to illegal prescriptions or prescription fraud, a criminal defense attorney in your area may be able to help.
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