Prescription drug misuse is on the rise for juveniles in Monmouth County and the second most commonly abused category of drugs, behind marijuana. For juveniles, prescription drugs are more common than cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and other drugs. These drugs are extremely addictive and include painkillers such as OxyContin or Vicodin, and tranquilizers like Xanax or Valium.
If a juvenile is arrested for possession of these drugs, he or she will have to appear before a Superior Court Judge in the county of residence. The local municipality where the juvenile was arrested will refer the matter to the Prosecutor’s Office. For example, if a juvenile was arrested in Middletown, the matter will be referred to Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.
It is imperative that an experienced juvenile criminal defense attorney handles the matter to avoid any type of long-term hardship to the juvenile. It is often the case that the family is concerned more with the drug misuse and the criminal matter takes a second seat. However, there are ways that the drug treatment can be incorporated into the juvenile matter so that the child benefits from the treatment.