Giving your friend a prescription for painkillers or other medicines such as Adderall or Ritalin could be an obvious choice. If someone is suffering or needs help, why not try to assist them? In this situation, acting as a Good Samaritan can land you in a bit or even a lot of trouble.

Sharing prescription medication violates federal and state laws and could cause criminal penalties. This may include fines, community services, probation, and even prison time. This can lead to many punishments at your college or high school.

What if They ‘Really Need It’? 

Consuming or possessing prescription drugs is illegal, for there is no prescription. It doesn’t matter if your friend says they’re suffering from pain, recently returned from the dentist, or they concentrate while doing their mental exam.

Outside of the prescription system prescribed by doctors, distribution, selling, or sharing prescription medication is prohibited. While it’s perfectly legal to take your medicine, that substance becomes a controlled substance once you have placed them in the wrong hand (meaning that it is in the hands of anyone other than you).

This means that giving prescription medications to a friend could result in you being guilty of disseminating (or even attempting in the future to disperse) prescription drugs without proper documents. This is illegal.

Vicodin, oxycodone, and Adderall, as well as other opioids and stimulants, are classified as “schedule II” drugs by the federal government and many states. The penalties for distributing them are very severe. Xanax and other prescription drugs to treat anxiety and other mental health issues can be classified as “schedule iv” drugs.

Consuming or distributing medicines without a valid prescription is highly hazardous. There are numerous possible complications that a pharmacist and doctor could be aware of that they may not.

If it’s an ineffective dosage, allergic reactions, or adverse effects of a side effect or any other adverse effects, taking the medication without a medical professional licensed to prescribe it could cause serious harm. Please do not pretend to be a doctor when a friend says they’re in discomfort or require a stimulant to help them get through their studies. All of these substances are highly prone to addiction and abuse as well. Alongside drug trafficking, aiding your friend’s drug addiction is possible.

What if We Use the Same Prescription? 

Even if the drug is identical to the one you’re taking, unless you’re a physician who prescribes the medication according to the law, providing your friend with prescription medications is unlawful and is considered to be distributed.

It doesn’t matter if the person you are talking to has an order for Adderall or any other medication they’re soliciting. It’s still illegal if your name appears in the prescription. “But I don’t have mine with me” isn’t a legitimate excuse.

Can a Friend Pick Up My Prescription? 

In most instances, allowing someone else to get a prescription on your behalf is fine. There might be specific guidelines that you must follow; however, it is entirely dependent on the pharmacist’s judgment.

Most of the time, the pharmacist will confirm that the person picking up the prescription knows the patient. They can ask for information about the patient (ii.e., the patient’s address or birthday), or the pharmacist may request identification. For medications that alleviate anxiety or ADHD, or ADHD, a pharmacist is more likely to give the prescription to a family member or friend than parents or family members.

A friend who picks the prescription to use for themselves is illegal.