Every parent’s nightmare when sending a child off to college for the first time is that he or she will fall prey to the lures of drugs and alcohol. Those living in the Triad know that use, manufacture and sale of heroin are on the rise in the community with an increased number of deaths and overdoses since 2014.
Because of the increase, local investigators paired together and were able to charge 24 individuals with trafficking, intent to sell and deliver, possession, conspiring to sell and even possession of a weapon. In that bust, officers seized a large amount of heroin with a high street value.
While it is important to educate our children about the dangers of drugs and continue with prevention methods, the reality is that it is cheap and widely available. Heroin is classified as a Schedule I drug by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) because it has no known medical use and is highly addictive. Cheap and addictive. Marijuana use (also a Schedule I, despite the recent movements in other states to legalize for medicinal or recreational purposes), opiates and abuse of prescription drugs are the most widely used by college students.
North Carolina’s drug laws are strict and can carry a wide range of penalties depending on the severity of the charges. Additionally, if your child attends High Point University, holding paraphernalia (even if it belongs to a friend), using or handing out illegal substances is strictly prohibited and can incur a fine of at least $350.00, referral to counseling, probation and even random drug testing. In some cases, the student could even lose student housing privileges or be suspended.
In the event your child is charged with a drug crime, speaking with an experienced criminal defense attorney, who is familiar with the community, about your child’s rights and what your options are will be the best offensive measure you can take.