In Nebraska and throughout the United States, teens have shared recreational drugs with each other at parks, inside vehicles, and even inside homes for as long as people can remember. As communication technology has improved, this practice has only become easier. Alcohol and marijuana are shared the most often, but teen use of prescription drugs is on the rise. In some jurisdictions, teens who get caught sharing these substances can be charged as drug dealers.
Not only can teens who share drugs be charged with distribution, but they can also face charges of homicide if one of their friends overdoses. In fact, these charges can be brought against almost anyone that was a party to the crime, including friends, siblings, and parents. Extensive prison sentences have been handed out to teens who shared drugs like LSD that resulted in an overdose.
According to research from the National Institute on Drug Abuse for Teens, overdose rates are going up among teenagers. This will likely mean punishments for those involved will increase. Prosecutions for accidental overdoses doubled between 2015 and 2017 according to a report from the New York Times. That’s why teens should be very aware of the potential consequences of sharing illegal substances with others.
People of any age who face drug possession or distribution charges need to get representation from a criminal defense attorney. Prosecutors in these cases have a lot of resources at their disposal, and it is not a wise choice to try and combat the allegations without having the assistance of experienced legal counsel.
