There`s no denying the risks of teen substance use and how bleak the road can be. Crime and drug addiction are often closely linked. The U.S. Department of Justice found that 70 percent of state prisoners and 64 percent of federal prisoners regularly used drugs before incarceration. The majority of these inmates tested positive for illicit drugs at the time of arrest and are more likely to re-enter substance abuse upon release from prison. Possession of drugs without a valid licence is illegal. Although penalties for drug possession are generally not as high as for drug production and distribution, possession of a relatively large quantity can be considered distribution. Under state and federal laws, penalties for possession, manufacture and distribution are much higher for second and subsequent convictions. Many laws require mandatory prison sentences and the full minimum sentence must be served.

The social consequences of addiction are usually the most discussed. Dropping out of school, job loss, hospitalization, legal problems (drunk driving, possession allegations, etc.), prison sentences, dysfunctional relationships, and being a perpetrator or victim of any type of abuse – all these are social consequences of drug abuse. Sometimes an addicted person doesn`t seem to have any of these problems. You can keep a job, get a degree, and cultivate relationships. This makes it harder to recognize addiction and promotes denial. But addiction is a progressive disease, and eventually, even someone in a functional addiction will have social problems if they don`t get help for their addiction. Drug use – including marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, and abuse of prescription drugs and illicit opioids – among adults is on the rise. Drug abuse and crime often go hand in hand.

The legal consequences of substance abuse are almost always overlooked, as are the harmful effects of addiction on a person`s mental and physical health (and rightly so), but the fact is that breaking the law can also harm a young adult`s future. Teenage users often forget that drug addiction can land them in jail, give them a criminal record, and inhibit their career and family aspirations. As a result, today`s teens and young adults are increasingly (and recklessly) entering a world of drugs and alcohol without understanding the full extent of their risks. If you use drugs, distribute drugs, or collaborate with others who do these things, you can face serious legal problems. Ending substance use disorder means ending possible consequences such as fines, jail time, loss of licence and loss of custody. The best way to avoid or end drug-related legal consequences is through professional drug treatment. Avoid consequences or learn to deal with consequences you are already facing. Find rest and start your life better by calling us at 706-914-2327. Those convicted of drug trafficking within 1,000 feet of a university (21 U.S.C.

845a) are liable to imprisonment and fines twice the normal penalties for the offense, with a mandatory prison sentence of at least one year. Your time in prison takes you away from your family. This takes away your personal freedom and can affect your future opportunities. If the death or serious bodily injury is attributable to the use of a controlled substance that has been distributed illegally, the person convicted of distributing the substance is liable to a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment and fines of up to $8 million. Every state in the country has a school zone where drugs and alcohol are prohibited. If a young person who possesses these substances is within 1,500 feet of a school, he or she will be sentenced to jail. The legal risks of drug abuse among adolescents extend beyond the school zone. Connecticut law, for example, prohibits the possession of alcohol by minors, even in private, and can result in a fine of between $181 and $500 and a 150-day driver`s license suspension.

Currently, in Connecticut, using a fake ID card can land a young adult in jail for up to 30 days. Driving under the influence can put a teenager behind bars for up to six months, and it is the only one in the first offense. But that`s not all. If your teen is addicted to prescription pills or therefore in possession of narcotics, they could spend between seven and 25 years in prison.