Driving under the influence (DUI) charges aren’t limited to just alcohol and illegal drugs in Arizona. Prescription medications, even those legally prescribed by a doctor, can lead to a DUI charge if they impair your ability to drive safely. Arizona’s DUI laws are strict, and they apply to any substance that affects your motor skills, judgment, or ability to operate a vehicle safely, so you can face legal consequences if a medication you were prescribed impairs you and leads to unsafe driving.
How Prescription Medications Can Impair Drivers
Many everyday medications and prescription medications come with side effects that can make driving dangerous. The effects vary based on the type of medication, dosage, and your reaction to the drug, so you’ll have to be careful about using any medication before getting behind the wheel, even if your doctor says it is necessary to take a prescription drug every day.
Common prescription drug side effects that can impair drivers include:
- Drowsiness and fatigue: Medications like sleep aids or muscle relaxers can cause extreme tiredness, but so can many commonly prescribed allergy medications.
- Slowed reaction times: Painkillers, including opioids, can make it harder to respond quickly to road hazards due to brain fog.
- Dizziness and blurred vision: Anti-anxiety drugs and certain antidepressants can cause dizziness or blurred vision.
- Impaired concentration: Medications used for conditions like ADHD, anxiety, or depression may affect focus.
If you are experiencing any of the above side effects caused by a prescription medication, it can make your driving behavior unsafe or erratic. If a highway patrol officer notices that you are driving in an unsafe way, you might be pulled over and then charged with a DUI if the officer determines that your unsafe driving is related to drug use, including prescription drug use.
Minimizing Impairment Risks with Your Doctor
If you are taking prescription medications and need to drive, you should first discuss potential side effects with your doctor. Together, you can consider how to allow you to use a necessary prescription without creating any potential driving risks for yourself and others on the road.
Consider talking to your doctor about these ways to minimize impairment risks caused by prescription medications:
- Adjust the dosage: Sometimes, lowering the dose can reduce side effects while still allowing medications to work effectively.
- Switch medications: Certain drugs may cause fewer side effects for you than others in the same category.
- Modify your medication schedule: You may be able to take your medication at times when you don’t have to drive, avoiding peak effectiveness periods when impairment is most likely.
Understanding your medication’s effect on your body is key. Many drugs require a period of adjustment when first prescribed, so plan your driving accordingly during those times. Make sure to never stop or change your medication regimen without your doctor’s guidance, as this could lead to other health complications.
Is Having a Prescription a Form of DUI Defense?
Having a valid prescription can be an important part of your defense if you’re charged with a DUI in Arizona. A prescription shows that the medication was legally obtained and that you were following the doctor’s instructions and may have been unaware of how the drug would impact your driving ability. However, possessing a prescription does not automatically exempt you from DUI charges or guarantee that you won’t be convicted or otherwise penalized.
Of course, the key factor in a prescription DUI defense case is whether the medication impaired your ability to drive. Proving your intent to use the medication responsibly and how you were able to remain focused and aware while on the drug can help prepare a strong defense. The prosecution may argue that you were negligent by driving while impaired, regardless of having a valid prescription, though, which is why it is so important to prepare your DUI defense case with a professional attorney.
Contact MayesTelles PLLC for Experienced DUI Defense
If you’ve been charged with a DUI related to prescription medications, talk to our legal team at MayesTelles PLLC in Phoenix, Arizona. We have extensive experience with DUI cases of all sorts and complexities, including those involving alleged prescription medication impairment. We know that every case is unique, so you won’t get a pre-made defense strategy either; our DUI defense attorneys work tirelessly to prepare a defense just for you, just as you deserve.
Call us at (602) 428-7104 today to schedule a free consultation. We accept calls 24/7.