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DUI of Drugs (DUID) California

In California, if you operate any motorized vehicle and you are found to be functionally impaired by legal or non legal drugs according to the California vehicle code section 23152(a) you can be charged with DUID.

Both controlled substances and prescription medications can greatly inhibit a person's ability to drive. Anyone who is caught driving even on a small amount of the prescription or illicit drugs can be detained by law enforcement. No matter how much is in your system the charges are weighed the same. So if you or a loved one has been arrested for DUID (driving under the influence of drugs) in Sacramento our nearby communities, you need to act immediately and contact the law offices of John A. Campanella today!

Regardless if the driver took illegal or legal drugs, even if prescribed by a medical professional, the risk to you remains the same. You can be convicted of DUID if the prosecution can show that you were even just the smallest bit impaired. The most crucial and important part of your defense is your lawyer's ability to convince the judge or jury that you were not “impaired” by the substance. Again, the lawyer who has the knowledge and experience in dealing with these DUID cases will give you your best shot at a successful defense. John Campanella brings that offensive approach that you look for to keep your rights, free and out of jail!

Commonly Abused Prescription Drugs

If you or a loved one has been detained or is in jail on charges of DUID you need to contact the offices of John Campanella as soon as possible so we can start fighting your case.

These are the three most abused types of drugs:

  • Opioids—most commonly prescribed for pain management
  • CNS depressants—benzodiazepine and barbiturates are most commonly used as sleep aids or mood suppressants
  • Stimulants—almost always prescribed for attention deficit disorders and/or narcolepsy.

Opioids include but not limited to:

  • Vicodin® or Lortab
  • OxyContin® or hydrocordone
  • Hydromorphone (Dilaudid®)
  • Demerol® or meperidine
  • Diphenoxylate (Lomotil®)
  • Morphine (opiate)
  • Methadone (opiate substitute)
  • Fentanyl (a powerful synthetic opiate analgesic similar to but more potent than morphine. It is typically used to treat patients with severe pain, or to manage pain after surgery)
  • Suboxene (opiate approved for treatment of opiate abuse)

Drugs affecting the central nervous system include:

  • Pentobarbital Sodium
  • Valium® or Diazepan
  • Xanax® or Alprazolam

Stimulant drugs include:

  • Dextroamphetamine or (Dexedrine®)
  • Methylphenidate: such as Ritalin®
  • Amphetamines: such as Adderall®

Drugs that are legal and sometime prescribed can still land you a DUID. These drugs include but are not limited to Marijuana, Xanax, Valium, Codeine, and the list goes on. If you are unsure what medications are safe for driving, please consult your physician. You may have been arrested for DUI of drugs for abusing a common household item as well, if it alters your mind such as ester, paint, gas or any other inhalants. This category commonly includes salts. Bath salts and Spice are commonly sold at smoke or head shops legally as herbal incense labeled “not for human consumption” but are used to accomplish the goal of getting high. These too although legal can land you a DUID.

Painkillers, tranquilizers, allergy medicines and antidepressants also have an affect on drivers. A common misconception is that if you are prescribed them that you are OK to drive. However, drivers can be considered under the influence if driving while using prescribed medications. So if you have been driving and test positive for prescribed medications you may also be charged with DUID. Whether the drug alters your mood, changes vision or reflexes, the results are the same: you are an impaired driver that is considered to be a threat to other drivers.

Medications greatly affect the mental behavior of the person on that medication, not just depending on the drug but the size, weight and sex of the individual. Anti-anxiety medications like Atterrax and Serroquel can slow reaction times and dull senses. At the other end of the other spectrum are stimulants which cause lack of concentration and or perception of time and or distance. Taking and/or mixing prescribed, illicit, synthetic drugs, and/or alcohol can not only be highly dangerous, but also may increase the chances of being involved or causing an accident by up to tenfold. Setting a limit for what is considered impaired on prescription drugs is really complicated due to the fact that no two people react the same to them.

It is also difficult to determine whether the driver had recently consumed the prescribed drugs, since most prescription drugs can stay in the human body from days to weeks. The “testimony” provided by drug recognition “experts” will be strongly relied on in court. There are only about 7,000 of these experts nationally.

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DUI Defense Since 1994
The Law Office of John Campanella is available to assist you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Please call today at (916) 498-8460 for a free consultation to go over the details of your case.

Office Location

Law Office of John Campanella
901 H St. Suite 301
Sacramento, CA 95814
Hours: 8:30 – 5:00 M-F
Phone: (916) 498-8460
Fax: (916) 476-6350
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