Heroin is a highly addictive “downer” drug that affects the brain’s ability to perceive pain. The short and long term side-effects of the drug are quite lengthy. The federal criminal guidelines consider heroin to be a schedule 1 drug and penalties for use and sale are usually serious at both the state and federal level.
Due to the increasing presence of heroin in and around the greater St. Louis area, St. Louis County Police have announced that they will begin aggressively targeting heroin users and sellers in order to attack the increasingly prevalent use of the drug. Further, the purity of the drug in the area has been measured at extreme highs which has led to an increase in overdoses on the drug.
St. Louis County Police have also said that heroin is creeping into high schools at a rapid pace and that because of the destructive effects of the drug many young lives are at risk. Especially since the success rate for treating an addict is lower than most other drugs.
Because heroin is so addictive, it can often lead individuals hooked on the drug into an endless whirlpool of bad events. If an individual is not only hooked on heroin but is also charged with a crime relating to the addiction, it can be very easy for that person to feel like there is no turning back. However, the defense attorneys at Henderson & Waterkotte, P.C. will take multiple steps to make sure the prosecution and law enforcement are not side-stepping procedural requirements just to put you in jail. Further, our attorneys can sometimes help an individual receive alternative treatments in lieu of jail or prison time so that there may be a better chance of recovery.
If you or a loved one has been charged with a heroin related crime, call the drug crime lawyers of Henderson & Waterkotte, P.C. We are available 24/7 and offer free consultations.