The Prescription Drugs Ambien and Xanax Are Commonly Factors in Drug-Related DUI Cases

Interviewer: Of the prescription drugs, which ones are most commonly involved in DUI cases?

Brian: We see a lot of cases where Ambien is a factor and many also with Xanax.

Interviewer: What about oxycodone or hydrocodone?

Brian: Hydrocodone and oxycodone are less common. I think more cases are primarily attributed to Ambien. It is a very common prescription and now many people take Ambien. Ambien is a problematic medication because there have been quite a few reported incidents of people taking Ambien and sleep driving.

Sleep Driving: Ambien Usage Can Make You Unaware of What You Are Doing

I did use that as a defense once or twice. A person has to be aware of what they are doing and if they went to sleep, took their Ambien as prescribed, and the next thing they remember is they are out driving that certainly creates a problem.

A person cannot be punished for what is basically sleep driving. If they are not in their right mind, if they didn’t know they were doing it they cannot be responsible. I’ve had clients and know of clients of other attorneys where the people are literally out in their pajamas.

They do not remember how they were driving; they do not remember how they ended up there. I had a client some years ago that had taken Ambien and drove and crashed a car and walked down the street.

There were witnesses who said, “This person looked completely out of it. I don’t think they were awake. They did not realize what they were doing. They somehow walked to the door, they went inside, they grabbed a drink of water, and they just seemed completely out of it and all of the sudden they just snapped out of it.”

Ambien is a big problem and there are certain medications that the prosecutor ‘s expert witness will testify that any amount in a person’s system is too impairing to be behind the wheel of a vehicle.

What If You Are Charged With a DUI While Under the Influence of a Medication Prescribed to Someone Else?

Interviewer: I guess you’re putting yourself in a lot of danger if you take someone else’s prescription medication and you drive because then being prescribed under law does not protect you?

Brian: Correct. If you are taking someone else’s prescription medication it becomes an illegal drug.

Interviewer: Would that affect the charge because it is now considered an illegal drug?

Brian: Yes. It is on par with cocaine or marijuana. Unless the prescription is prescribed to you and you are taking it as prescribed, it is literally the same thing as taking meth, or cocaine, or marijuana, or any of the other commonly known illegal drugs.

Interviewer: If you take someone’s Vicodin or Percoset, even one pill and you are pulled over and they test your blood, you are in trouble.

Brian: Yes, absolutely.

By Brian Douglas Sloan

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“I am one of only a handful of Phoenix DUI Lawyers that focuses solely on DUI Defense representation.”

I have spent my entire career focused on DUI Defense representation, having personally defended more than 4,100+ DUI clients in the past 18+ years.

If you’re looking for a divorce attorney, tax attorney, or civil attorney, then I can comfortably say: "I’m not the one for you".

Coming up with traditional, as well as outside-the-box motions and defenses for my clients, often with good results, is the hallmark of my practice.

Lawyers that say they are "aggressive", or "will fight for you", are a dime a dozen. They use these phrases because that is what they think people want to hear. The truth of the matter is, being "aggressive" rarely gets the client anywhere in these court systems. Being "aggressive" isn’t the same as being good, and is often used to put on a show for a client to hide the fact that they aren’t doing anything meaningful for the client.

The same is true for the lawyers that claim to do DUI Defense... and Criminal Cases..., and Accident cases..., and Divorces. A Jack-of-all-Trades is a master of none. By handling all different sorts of cases, they take away from their ability to truly focus on DUIs, and keep up to date on the latest changes in DUI Defense Representation.

What I offer is intelligent, quality DUI Defense, at an exceptional price.

I am one of only a handful of Arizona DUI Lawyers that focuses solely on DUI Defense representation.

I have not only taught other lawyers how to do DUI Defense Representation at statewide seminars, but I produce DUI Legal Guides used by defense lawyers across Arizona.

I am one of the most award-winning DUI Defense Lawyers in Arizona; have been recognized nationally, including in a 2022 issue of USA Today; and there are only a few lawyers in Arizona who have personally defended more DUI cases than I have. I am also one of the most reasonably-priced DUI Lawyers, as I pride myself on charging a Flat Rate only for the legal services you need, and not for the legal services you don’t.

I am also the lawyer who people call once they realize that their original lawyer screwed something up, gave them false hope or false promises, or simply just took their money and didn’t do much on the case. You would be surprised at how often this happens.

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