Valium is a word most NJ residents are familiar with. It is one of the most commonly prescribed drugs for anxiety disorders and withdrawal from alcohol abuse. It is also given in very small doses to relax people before surgery or chemotherapy. It is most often given in tablet form, unless there is a medical reason the tablet cannot be swallowed. Then, it is injected in a liquid form into the arm.
Valium is obtained and taken illegally by recreational drug users quite often. They will crush the tablets and snort them into the nasal cavity in order to have the medication hit the nervous system instantly. It is used as an illegal drug because it can cause feelings of extreme happiness or euphoria and is taken when coming off a cocaine high in order to avoid the crash.
Valium is highly addictive and habit forming and withdrawal from Valium can be extremely difficult to experience. When going through Valium withdrawal, the symptoms can be very similar to withdrawal from an illegal drug or alcohol. If a person abruptly stops taking it after recreational use for longer than four months, they may experience seizures and even fall into a coma. While withdrawing from Valium, people often feel anxious, paranoid and shaky, as if they were going through a severe hangover. They will also experience irritability, become depressed and be very sensitive to light and noise.
Possession of and Distribution of Valium
As with other illegally obtained prescription CDS substances, possession of or distribution of illegally obtained Valium is against the law. It is also illegal in NJ to sell or distribute legally prescribed Valium to anyone other than the person for whom it was prescribed. As stated in the general law regarding prescription drug fraud, these actions carry severe consequences. In addition to those consequences, the selling, possession or distribution of Valium in the state of NJ carries the following penalties:
- If you are in possession of illegally obtained Valium or legal Valium that is not your prescription, you will be charged with a crime of the third degree. You will face up to five years in jail for this offense.
- If you are in possession of more than 100 tablets of Valium, whether legally prescribed or illegally obtained, and are attempting to sell or otherwise distribute it, you are charged with a crime of the second degree. This carries a sentence of five to ten years in jail.
- These charges are in addition to the prescription fraud charges that will be filed against you if you are caught engaging in prescription forgery in order to obtain the Valium.
Call Villani & DeLuca’s Drug Charge Lawyers for Help
Have you or a loved one been charged with the possession, sale or distribution of Valium? Let the experienced lawyers at Villani & DeLuca help you navigate these charges and work with you to obtain the best outcome under your circumstances. Serving the Ocean County and Monmouth County areas, and located in convenient Point Pleasant Beach, NJ, we are here to meet your legal needs. Villani & DeLuca’s criminal lawyers often represent clients from towns such as Manalapan, Long Branch, Neptune, Toms River and Brick. Call today for your free consultation!
