Drug Crime FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Drug Crimes
The following are frequently asked questions regarding drugs, drug laws, and drug statistics in the United States.
Q: What Are Some Types Of Drug Crimes?
A: There are a variety of drug related crimes in California and the United States, some of which are drug possession, possession with intent to sell, drug diversion, drug distribution, drug manufacturing, drug trafficking, and the possession of drug paraphernalia.
Q: What Are The Penalties For Committing A Drug Related Crime?
A: Drug crimes can be felonies and misdemeanors. Felony drug crimes carry higher penalties than misdemeanor drug crimes. The laws regarding drug charges are very strict and there are many factors that are taken into account, including the crime itself (possession, sales, manufacturing, etc.), the type of drug and the quantity of the drug. The penalties for many drug crimes are outlined in the drug schedule.
Q: What Is A Drug Schedule?
A: A drug schedule is a guide that was created in 1970 as part of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act. The drug schedules divide drugs and narcotics that are regulated under United States Federal law into five categories, as well as the accompanying penalty for possessing the drug.
Q: What Is Included In Schedule I?
A: Schedule I includes drugs and narcotics that are not used for medicinal purposes and place users at high risk for substance abuse, including LSD, Heroin, and Mescaline. Even used under the supervision of a physician, these substances are extremely dangerous.
Q: What Is Included In Schedule II?
A: Schedule II includes substances that are currently used in the U.S. for medical reasons, although there are restrictions placed on them. Schedule II substances place the user at high risk for abuse, and include Opium and Amphetamines.
Q: What Is Included In Schedule III?
A: Schedule III includes substances that place the user at less risk for drug abuse than Schedule II substances, and are currently being used in the U.S. for medical reasons. Some schedule III substances include Anabolic Steroids and Ketamine.
Q: What is included in Schedule IV?
A: Schedule IV includes substances that place users at less risk for abuse than Schedule III drugs, but still have potential for abuse. Barbital and Diazepam are two Schedule IV substances.
Q: What Is Included In Schedule V?
A: Schedule V includes substances that place users at less risk for abuse than Schedule IV substances. Although these narcotics are typically used for medicinal purposes in the U.S. they still place users at risk.
Q: What Is A Controlled Substance?
A: A controlled substance is a drug or narcotic that is described in the drug schedules as part of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970. Some controlled substances are medications which may be prescribed by physicians, while other substances are illegal under any circumstances. These drugs have varying levels of risk and addiction.
Q: What Are Illicit Drugs?
A: Illicit drugs are any number of illegal substances, including but not limited to: PCP, Cocaine, Heroin, Hashish, LSD, Mescaline, Opium, Amphetamines and Marijuana. These drugs are illegal under all circumstances and people who are arrested for possession of these drugs will face very serious criminal charges.
Q: What Is Drug Diversion?
A: Drug diversion is when a person uses illegal means to obtain prescription medications. Some examples of drug diversion include writing fraudulent prescriptions, stealing pharmaceutical drugs, and falsifying symptoms or illnesses to obtain medications.
Q: How Many People Are Convicted For Drug Crimes In California?
A: Approximately 115 out of every 100,000 people in imprisoned in California are there as a result of drug charges. An experienced Los Angeles narcotics charge defense lawyer may have been able to keep those people out of jail through alternatives such as drug treatment and counseling programs.
Q: What Is The “War On Drugs”?
A: The war on drugs began in 1972 by President Nixon as a campaign to stop people from using illegal drugs. Billions of dollars have been spent in an attempt to stop people from using narcotics. As a result of the war on drugs, millions of Americans have been incarcerated for >drug related crimes, costing tax payers over one billion dollars a year.
Q: What Are Inhalants?
A: Inhalants are substances such as cleaning chemicals, paint, paint remover, and aerosol products that can intoxicate the user if he or she inhales the fumes of the substance. This form of drug abuse is very prevalent among adolescents and young teens due to the availability of the products. A report conducted in 2001, showed that 18 million children aged 12 and over admitted to using inhalants.
Q: How Many People In The U.S. Abuse Pharmaceutical Drugs?
A: More than four million people in America abuse pharmaceutical drugs. Misusing pharmaceutical drugs is a crime and, like other drug crimes, the defendant will be harshly punished.
Q: How Many Americans Have Used Marijuana?
A: More than 40% of all Americans aged 12 and older have admitted to using marijuana at least once in their lives.
Q: What Are Some Of The Consequences Of Drug Abuse?
A: Drug abuse has a variety of dire consequences, including personal, professional, familial, and societal problems. Some of the devastating effects of drug abuse include HIV, AIDS, poverty, poor family relationships, Hepatitis, miscarriages, internal organ damage, emotional problems, brain damage, heart problems, dissociative disorders, respiratory disorders, and death.
