Drug possession charges can mess your life up in many ways. Maybe you think you have a relatively harmless vice. Your feelings on the matter can quickly change, though, if the police catch you and you wind up in front of a judge.
Also, even if the cops never catch you, your habit might impact your life in other ways or even end it. Overdoes killed 1,655 Colorado residents per 100,000 from 2020-2021, with prescription pill abuse leading the way. If you start using pills recreationally and buy them on the street, you never know what is in them, and ingesting just a single one that contains fentanyl can kill you.
In this article, we’ll talk about some ways your life can change if the legal system charges you with drug possession. It’s not the most pleasant subject, but it’s worth thinking about if you find yourself going down this road.
You Can Lose Your Job
Most employers won’t instantly fire you if they find out the police arrested you for drugs. That enters some questionable legal territory. However, even if your boss doesn’t immediately show you the door after a drug arrest, they may not look at you the same way after that.
If they had you on the shortlist for a promotion, they might give it to someone else after your drug arrest. They may not offer you as many overtime hours. They may not give you as many shifts. They might also find some excuse to get rid of you. Your boss may say it’s not about the drug arrest if you ask them, but you’ll probably know the real truth.
You Might Have to Pay a Fine
You might also have to pay a fine if the police catch you with drugs. Fines and community services can act as deterrents in some instances if someone has a drug problem. Even if you’re facing a relatively modest fine, if you don’t have a lot of money right now, losing those funds can make a difference.
You might not be able to afford rent or groceries after you pay the fine. You may also have to attend drug counseling if the judge makes that a part of your sentence.
You Could See Some Jail Time
You might also have to go to jail if the police arrest you with drugs. If they catch you with a couple of joints in a state that doesn’t have legalized marijuana status yet, you can probably plead down the charges if you don’t have any prior criminal convictions. However, maybe you’re out on parole, or you’re on probation. If so, the judge might look at your case more harshly based on your previous record.
If you have a significant amount of drugs on you, you might also get multiple years in jail. Even if you only had those drugs for personal use, maybe you can’t convince the judge of that.
If you have a hundred pills on you, for instance, the legal system might hit you with an intent to distribute charge. If so, you might face a double-digit jail sentence, particularly if you already have a previous criminal record.
Your Family Might Not Respect You as Much
Even if you escape with no jail time, your family might not look at you the same way after you get home. Perhaps they didn’t know about your drug use. If they did, maybe they didn’t know about its seriousness.
If you have impressionable kids at home, it’s hard to know what to say to them following an embarrassing drug arrest. It’s hard to be the upstanding adult who they can look up to if they know you just got out of the courtroom after a judge chastised you. Your kids may act up now because they don’t view you as the same kind of authority figure they did before.
You Could Lose Your Standing in the Community
You might also lose standing in the community in which you are active. Maybe you attend church, and the news that the police arrested you for drugs will quickly make the rounds.
You might get lots of side-eye glances and hear whispers every Sunday morning. If you do volunteer work, coach your kid’s Little League games, or anything along those lines, you might have to face criticism from other parents. They may even demand that you step down from a position of authority.
