A Drug Crime Lawyer and the U.S. Opioid Overdose Epidemic

The opioid overdose situation in the United States has reached epidemic numbers, prompting Congress to pass legislation in September 2018 including various actions to address the situation. A Drug Crime Lawyer represents clients who have been arrested for illegal possession of opioids for personal use or a large enough amount that the charge involves intent to sell. Possession is a significantly less serious offense, but it still carries the risk of jail time.

Statistics

In 2017, a new U.S. opioid overdose record was set at about 72,000 fatalities. The problem touches people from all walks of life, demolishing the idea that an addict is typically a person who lives on the streets trying to figure out ways to come up with cash for the next fix. Lawyers with a firm such as Addair Thurston Chtd. have typically learned this firsthand through the clients they represent. Information on this particular organization can be viewed at Addairthurston.com.

Functional Addicts

Large numbers of people dependent on heroin and other opioids are functional addicts. Some are in recovery and overdose when they relapse. Others are actively using drugs and overdose because the drug they purchased was stronger than they expected or was mixed with another dangerous substance. When heroin is mixed with fentanyl, for instance, the combination often is deadly.

A recent disturbing trend is for employees to accidentally overdose on the job. Others are fired because they fail to pass a random drug test or begin behaving erratically at work. These men and women were clean when they were hired and able to pass a drug test. Either they began using after that or they relapsed. Unions have begun to step forward to provide assistance to these workers so they receive rehab service instead of being fired, but this includes only a small percentage of the nation’s entire workforce.

Rehab

A Drug Crime Lawyer endeavors to see that chemically dependent clients have the chance to participate in rehab instead of being incarcerated in prison. Ongoing participation in counseling and support groups appears to be paramount for staying clean. Families are left traumatized and bewildered when a loved one who was in recovery for six months, a year, or longer accidentally overdoses. You can also follow them on Twitter for latest news and update!

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