Florida’s Extreme Response to Opioid Epidemic
The United States is suffering from an opioid epidemic. Almost 80 people die of an opioid-related overdose daily. Over 30,000 Americans died in 2015 because of an opioid overdose. We have this crisis in America today because pharmaceutical companies push these drugs on people and doctors overprescribe them. They’re highly addictive. People addicted to opioids commit crimes to keep buying the drugs. It’s truly a tragedy. There is no end in sight, either.
Fentanyl is a Major Problem
The opioid epidemic has gotten a lot worse in the last couple of years, somewhat because of fentanyl. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is used for extreme pain. It is mostly used in operating rooms and hospice locations. It is up to 100 times stronger than morphine and up to 50 times stronger than heroin.
OxyContin is another of the most commonly abused opioids, both with physician over-prescription and illegal selling. The federal and state governments are concentrating on the OxyContin problem, but drug users are just turning to fentanyl. This highly addictive drug is usually mixed with cocaine or heroin because it is cheaper than both of them and creates a super powerful combination. People who take these drugs often don’t know what they’re putting in their bodies, and it can lead to injury and death.
Minimum Mandatory Sentencing as a Solution
Instead of addressing this as a public health issue, Florida has put into law new minimum mandatory sentences. These sentences specifically address Fentanyl. There was a big pushback in the state against minimum mandatory sentencing.
These new sentencing guidelines are very troublesome for many people, because they apply to people who just possess fentanyl, rather than those who actually distribute or sell it. The new sentencing guidelines lay out sentences of between 3 and 25 years. You could spend a lot of time in prison, and that’s why it’s crucial to get in touch with top Miami criminal defense attorney as soon as possible.With these new sentencing guidelines in place, someone who possesses a tiny amount of Fentanyl could spend three years in prison.
Expert Legal Defense is Necessary
An experienced Miami criminal defense lawyer is going to help you better than anyone else. A good Miami criminal defense attorney is going to be able to tell you all your options and lay out your defense.
It is important to understand the following:
- The prosecutor is the only one who can waive the minimum mandatory sentencing guidelines.
- If the evidence is weak, your criminal defense attorney will know how to work with the prosecutor to get the charges dropped.
- A Miami criminal defense lawyer will talk over your case with the prosecutor, hopefully giving them sufficient reasons to ignore the minimum mandatory sentencing guidelines.
Our criminal lawyer in Miami is your top choice if you’ve been charged with a fentanyl crime. Contact the Miami criminal attorney at Stroleny Law: Criminal Defense Attorney today if you’ve been arrested for fentanyl possession.
Stroleny Law: Criminal Defense Attorney handles a variety of criminal law cases, so call now if you have any questions.
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