Wisconsin Prescription Drugs

Legal or Illegal?

The use of prescription medications within the legal limits of their proper uses is not illegal. However, any medication that is abused or impairs a person's ability to safely drive may lead to criminal charges.

Medication Drugs & Driving

Wisconsin OWI laws prohibit the operation of a motorized vehicle while "under the influence" of a any agent which may impair one's ability to safely drive a motorized vehicle including prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, and alcohol.

Inability to control vehicle

Any agent - prescription or over-the-counter drug, alcohol, or illegal substance - which impairs a person's ability to keep control of their motorized vehicle can lead to criminal charges.

Medications that Impair

Prescription and over-the-counter medications that are likely to impair driving usually carry a warning label on the package exterior. They often warn a person to refrain from driving when taking the drug or until the patient is aware of how the medication affects them.

Many unlabeled prescription drugs might also impair driving even though they don't have a warning label. In some instances, a prescription medication may be very unlikely to cause problems for most people, but may react on certain individuals in an unfavorable manner causing a lack of judgment, an inability to discern depths, an inability to determine distances, a feeling of dizziness, or other side effects which result in impeding the person's ability to drive.

Prescription Drug Abuse

Use of a prescription drug not in accordance with its prescribed manner of administration or under a doctor's direction may be an abuse of that drug. Any misuse is inadvisable and becomes illegal if it interferes with, impedes, or otherwise affects a person's control of their ability to control a vehicle.

Prescription drug abuse can result in very severe criminal penalties.

Illegally Obtained Medications

If a person illegally obtains any medication, whether by fraudulently faking a prescription order or buying it on the street, they face the potential of being charged with very severe penalties and sentenced to jail or prison terms with hefty fines.

Crack Down On Medications

A crackdown on people driving under the influence of prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, and both illegal and legal substances has resulted in an increase in the number of arrests for OWI in Wisconsin.

Under Investigation or Arrested?

If you are under investigation, if you have been arrested and not yet charged, or if you have already been charged with prescription medication abuse, an OWI involving medications or alcohol, please contact Attorney Mike Rudolph right away.

These cases are very complex requiring the expertise of an experienced local criminal defense lawyer. Attorney Mike Rudolph is experienced in defending people against prescription drug abuse and other criminal charges with drugs such as Oxycodone, Oxycontin, Vicodin, Adderall, Ritalin, and other narcotics. He has defended people against the most difficult drug offenses including trafficking drugs, possession of legal and illegal drugs, and sale or distribution of prescription medications or illegal drugs. He has also defended people against theft and fraud charges to obtain prescription drugs and doctor shopping.