Xanax Increasing as a Drug-Related DUI

The anti-anxiety drug Xanax has increased over the last few years as a cause of DUI arrests and charges in Florida as well as other parts of the nation. Xanax is a prescription medication used to treat anxiety disorders and panic attacks. The medication is also a popular unauthorized street drug sold for its euphoria-like effects, which recreational users take to get high. Xanax comes with warnings about its effects, such as drowsiness and dizziness; users are advised not to use it when driving or operating machinery. It also comes with warnings about combining it with alcohol which can heighten its impairing effects. Driving while under the influence of Xanax alone can lead to DUI arrests and charges. Driving while under the influence of a combination of Xanax and alcohol is even more dangerous and apt to lead to impaired driving DUI charges.

According to an official in a Florida DUI task force, Xanax has become more frequent in DUI arrests over the past decade. The drug has been ranked as one of the most common, along with cocaine and marijuana, in such arrests. According to a report in the St. Petersburg's Times, Xanax-related DUI arrests in Pinellas County numbered 177 in 2011 in comparison to just 4 such arrests in 1998. According to the Florida Medical Examiners Commission, Xanax was the fourth leading drug involved in overdoses in the state in 2006.

Broward County DUI Lawyer

Being arrested for a DUI, whether it is related to alcohol, drugs, or a combination of the two, is one of the most common criminal offenses in Florida and the nation. Florida has strict laws concerning driving while under the influence of alcohol and / or drugs and prosecutors are anxious to exact the full extent of the law on those who violate these statutes. If you have been arrested and charged with DUI in or around Fort Lauderdale, you should immediately contact the DUI defense firm of Parks & Braxton, P.A. Not only do you face losing your driver's license but potential jail time, heavy financial consequences, and a future with a criminal conviction.

The legal team at the firm has obtained the highest national rating for legal ability and ethical standards by Martindale Hubbell with an AV Preeminent ranking. They have also been named in the 2012 edition of South Florida's Top Rated Lawyers. As former Broward County prosecutors and with 40 years of combined experience, they have the skills and legal prowess necessary to help you obtain the most favorable case outcome in your DUI case. Contact the firm to arrange for a free case evaluation concerning your DUI arrest and charges today.