Gillette Fentanyl Defense Attorney
What Fentanyl Charges Could You Be Facing in Gillette and What Are the Penalties?
Fentanyl is classified as a Schedule II drug in the Controlled Substances Act. Possession of any amount is illegal in Wyoming. Criminal charges associated with fentanyl include:
- Simple possession: If you were found in possession of a small amount of fentanyl without a valid prescription, it will likely be charged as a misdemeanor that carries up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.
- Possession with intent to sell: When a person is in possession of a large amount of fentanyl, law enforcement sees it as evidence of intent to sell. Penalties may include a prison sentence of up to seven years, a fine of up to $15,000, or both.
If you have been arrested in Gillette, speak with a Campbell County fentanyl defense lawyer at Steven Titus & Associates, P.C. at (307) 257-7800.
Skilled Defense Against Gillette Fentanyl Charges
Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid. It is similar to morphine but 50 to 100 times stronger, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Names for prescription fentanyl include Sublimaze, Actiq, and Duragesic. It is used medically to treat patients with severe pain, particularly after surgery, and patients with chronic pain who cannot tolerate other opioids. In addition to its prescription forms, fentanyl is also made and sold illegally.
How Is Fentanyl Used?
When used medically with a prescription, fentanyl may be administered as a shot, a patch, or a lozenge. This synthetic opioid is made and sold illegally in powder form, on blotter paper, in nasal sprays and eye droppers, or in pills that appear similar to other prescription opioids. Some dealers mix fentanyl with heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, or MDMA.
Why Are the Police Cracking Down So Hard on Fentanyl?
Fentanyl users develop a tolerance and need higher and more frequent doses to get the desired effects. This increases the likelihood of overdoses. Synthetic opioids, including fentanyl, are involved in more drug overdose deaths than any other drug in the U.S.
NIDA reports that 59% of all opioid-related deaths in a recent year involved fentanyl. Fentanyl mixed with other drugs can be particularly dangerous, as people may not realize they are taking it and the strong opioids can lead to overdoses. Like other opioids, fentanyl is dangerous and powerfully addictive.
What Is the Media Obsession with “Rainbow Fentanyl”?
Public alarm has been raised recently by the U.S. DEA. The agency is warning citizens that brightly colored “rainbow fentanyl” is being used in a “deliberate effort by traffickers to drive addiction amongst kids and young adults.” Reportedly, these fentanyl pills in assorted colors are designed to look like candy and have been nicknamed Sweet Tarts and Skittles by drug traffickers. DEA asserts that it is working relentlessly to stop trafficking of rainbow fentanyl and defeat the Mexican drug cartels responsible for the vast majority of fentanyl trafficking in the U.S.
Many drug experts are skeptical of DEA’s warning, as reported by NPR. They are not convinced that Mexican drug cartels and dealers have launched a new marketing campaign targeting children, particularly as DEA has not produced any supporting evidence. It is nothing new for street dealers to use bright colors in their products to distinguish them from others on the street.
Do You Need a Gillette Drug Crime Defense Lawyer?
If you are facing fentanyl charges in Campbell County, your best chance of obtaining the most favorable outcome is to have an experienced Gillette drug crime defense attorney representing you. Contact Steven Titus & Associates, P.C. at (307) 257-7800. We can protect your rights and work tirelessly to build a solid defense against the charges. Our seasoned trial attorneys take pride in being available and personalizing every case for our clients.
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