Silver Spring, MD Drug DUI Lawyer

Drug DUI Defense Attorney Assisting Defendants in Silver Spring, MD

Drug-related DUIs are becoming increasingly common in Maryland. With the rising popularity of cannabis and the increase in the number of people who take prescription medications that can cause impairment, a larger portion of DUI arrests now involve substances other than alcohol. These DUIs can be complicated for a number of reasons. While a person's blood alcohol concentration can be measured through blood or breath tests, and a person's level of drunkenness can be gauged through field sobriety testing, it can be much harder for the police to determine whether a person is under the influence of drugs, and if so, to what degree.

The Law Offices of Gerstenfield & Demirji, PC. is experienced in helping people who have been arrested for drug-related DUI. Our knowledgeable Rockville, MD drug DUI lawyers are uniquely skilled in defending those accused of DUIs involving a substance other than alcohol. We use many of the same powerful legal defenses in both alcohol and drug-based DUI cases and will carefully analyze your case to identify the best possible defense strategy.

Can I Get a DUI for Taking My Prescription Medication?

Having a prescription for a medication means that you are allowed to possess and use that particular substance - not that you are allowed to drive while under its influence. Many prescription drugs can impair a person's judgment, reaction time, or coordination. Common prescription medications that can impair a person's driving ability include:

• Opioid pain medication - Opiates used to manage short-term or chronic pain can cause significant impairment. People who suffer from chronic pain often do not feel intoxicated after taking their regular pain medication, but might be deemed legally impaired anyway.
• Sleeping pills - Commonly prescribed sleep aids like Trazadone and Ambien can cause people to fall asleep while driving—or to start driving when they are already asleep.
• Anxiety medication - Benzodiazepines used to manage clinical anxiety or panic attacks can cause sleepiness, short-term memory loss, or slow reaction speed.
• Antipsychotics and other psychiatric medications - Some psychiatric medications can produce profound sleepiness and delayed reaction time, especially when a person first starts taking them.

These are only a few of the many prescription drugs that can affect a person's ability to safely operate a car. Many people begin taking a new medication not realizing that it could cause sleepiness or other side effects that make driving unsafe.

Illicit Drugs and DUI Charges

Illicit drugs—or prescription drugs purchased on the street—can easily result in DUI charges if a person drives after taking them. Possession charges often accompany DUI charges based on illicit drug use. Illegal drugs that can impair a person's ability to drive include:

• Cocaine and methamphetamine - Both of these drugs are often associated with felony DUI charges.
• LSD, psilocybin ("magic mushrooms"), and DMT - These hallucinogenic drugs can cause a driver to crash very easily.
• Heroin - Heroin has become more common as the DEA has cracked down on prescription opioids.

Cannabis DUI Lawyers

Although it is now legal for adults at least 21 years old to buy, possess, and use cannabis recreationally in Maryland, you can still be charged with a DUI for driving after using THC products. It is also illegal to use cannabis in a moving vehicle. Cannabis-related DUI arrests are often highly subjective, and they may be based on the officer's perception of whether the driver looked like he or she was under the influence of marijuana.

Contact a Silver Spring, MD Drug DUI Lawyer

The Law Offices of Gerstenfield & Demirji, PC. is experienced in representing people who have been charged with drug DUIs. Our knowledgeable Silver Spring drug DUI attorneys will work to present the best defense possible. Contact us at 301-589-9500 for a complimentary consultation.