According to the Drug Enforcement Agency, heroin is an illegal drug that you can be arrested for having. Although being addicted to heroin is technically not illegal, there are plenty legal issues that can crop up when you are addicted to heroin. Unfortunately, the further the addiction goes the less likely you are to be careful about being caught. Once you are in the clutches of the drug, you stop caring what happens to you.
What you Can be Arrested For
There are several different offenses associated with simply having heroin on your person or being on heroin. If you are caught with heroin or doing heroin, you might be charged with one of these things.
Possession
This is just having a small amount of the drug on your person. It can be simple possession or possession of paraphernalia. Just having something to use heroin on you is sometimes grounds for arrest.
Possession with Intent to Sell
This is the charge for having a large amount of heroin on you. By large amount they mean too much for personal use.
Distribution
Heroin addiction can lead to months or even years of jail time.
This is the charge for having a very large amount of heroin on you. If you have enough to sell to a large amount of people, they assume you are dealing the drug. You can be arrested and charged for distribution even if you do not intend to sell the heroin you have on you.
Public Intoxication
This is a catch all for when a police officer knows you are doing heroin. Public intoxication can be anything from acting strangely to sleeping on the street.
Driving While Intoxicated
DWI or DUI (driving while intoxicated or driving while under the influence) are both things you can be charged with if you are driving while on heroin. Although the officer might not know exactly what you are on that will not stop them from arresting you for this offense.
What Happens when you get Arrested?
For most people being arrested is not what they fear. It is what comes after that makes them afraid and ruins your life.
Booking
When you are booked your arrest becomes public record. This record along with a mug shot can follow you around for the rest of your life, particularly on the internet.
Court
Going to court is not only embarrassing but you also have the expense of hiring a lawyer. Even if you are not sentenced to jail, the process can be lengthy and expensive. Most people who go to court over heroin, wind up being convicted and go to jail.
Incarceration
Jail time is a very scary prospect no matter what. It is one of the most severe legal ramifications of heroin addiction. The sentence can be anywhere from a few months to several years depending on the area and charge.
How to Find Treatment Before these Legal Consequences Affect You
It is extremely important to find treatment before these legal consequences can affect you. You can find help for your heroin addiction by calling us at 877-743-0081 (Who Answers?). It can ruin your life if you get arrested, seek treatment before you find out exactly what the legal ramifications of your addiction are.
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