Prescribed or Part of an Addiction
Methadone is frequently prescribed by doctors to help in treating heroin or other opioid addictions. Methadone may also be prescribed to treat pain. But while methadone may be legally used with a prescription, possession of methadone without a prescription in Salt Lake can lead to serious criminal charges.
Penalties for a Methadone Possession Conviction
Being caught with methadone in Utah can lead to criminal charges for possession of a controlled substance. A charge for methadone possession in Utah begins as a class A misdemeanor, but can rise to the felony level depending on the specific facts of the case.
The best criminal defense attorneys insist on fair courtroom procedures that respect clients’ rights.
Possession with the intent to distribute, distribution, or simple possession in a drug-free zone can be punished as a felony. Penalties for a second degree felony distribution charge can include a 1-15 year prison term, and up to $19,000 in fines (including surcharge).
While the potential penalties for methadone can be severe, prison time is not mandatory. Utah’s sentencing laws allow the court to suspend a jail or prison sentence in a drug possession case, and instead place the defendant on probation. In many drug cases, the best sentencing outcomes can involve substance abuse treatment and probation rather than incarceration. In some cases, a prosecutor may even agree to hold a plea in abeyance with a dismissal following the completion of a drug court or other appropriate treatment program.
Methadone and Addiction Recovery
The use of methadone as part of an addiction recovery program is somewhat controversial. So-called “methadone maintenance” programs for long-term addicts are viewed by some as inappropriately encouraging ongoing reliance on controlled substance use. Others consider such programs to be an important and legitimate treatment option that can help save lives.
A good attorney will talk with you about how your case can affect your job, education, family, and future.
In some substance abuse treatment programs, methadone is prescribed as a means of assisting a person who is struggling with heroin or other opiate addiction. Opioid substitution treatment or methadone replacement therapy, heroin or other opiate drugs are replaced with a medication that is safer and easier to manage. For some people, this kind of treatment can be a literal life saver.
The controversy surrounding methadone treatment comes in part as a result of methadone’s potential for abuse. For some people, methadone simply becomes a substitute for their prior drug of choice.
Other drugs used for treatment of opioid dependence, such a suboxone, have gained greater acceptance in the legal community. But some judges and prosecutors still view such drugs with suspicion due to the potential for abuse.
Understanding your goals is the first step to developing the best defense strategy.
Finding the Right Defense Attorney
If you are facing criminal charges in Utah, the most important decision you make may be choosing the right attorney for your case.
Contact us directly to see how our defense team can help you.
