Prescription Drug Charges in Pennsylvania: A Growing Risk for Young Adults
Prescription medications are widely used on college campuses and among young professionals, often without much thought given to legal consequences. Many people assume that because a drug was originally prescribed by a doctor, possession or sharing is not a serious offense. Under Pennsylvania law, that assumption can be costly.
How Prescription Drug Charges Arise
Prescription drug charges often stem from:
Traffic stops
Campus police encounters
Searches tied to unrelated investigations
Reports from roommates or acquaintances
Commonly involved medications include stimulants, anti-anxiety drugs, and pain medications.
Possession Without a Valid Prescription
Possessing a prescription drug without a valid prescription in your own name can result in criminal charges. Borrowing medication from a friend—even for a legitimate medical reason—does not make possession lawful.
Sharing or Selling Medications
What some people view as “helping out a friend” can quickly be framed by prosecutors as intent to deliver. Even small amounts exchanged without money can raise serious allegations.
Long-Term Consequences
A prescription drug conviction can affect:
Academic standing
Professional licensing
Employment background checks
Early defense focuses on context, search legality, and charging decisions.
About Frank Walker Law
Attorney Frank Walker of Frank Walker Law is a National Top 100 Criminal Defense Lawyer, and Personal Injury Attorney who has been recognized as a Super Lawyer, a member of the National College for DUI Defense, Best Attorneys in America, Best Law firms of America, America’s Greatest Attorneys, and a Top AVVO Rated attorney, with offices in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania and Morgantown West Virginia.
Additionally, you can find Attorney Walker on YouTube, TikTok, the Pittsburgh Attorney Podcast and the West Virginia Attorney Podcast, where he gives legal tips (not advice!) and discusses the pressing legal issues of the day.
If you or someone you love are facing criminal charges or are seriously injured in an accident, contact Attorney Frank Walker immediately at 412-532-6805 (Pittsburgh), 304-413-0179 (Morgantown), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for aggressive and experienced Criminal Defense or Representation in a Civil Case.