Sunday, November 17, 2013

Driving Under the Influence of Drugs: What is Methamphetamine?


Most people are well aware that they can be arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. Terms like wet reckless point to the use of alcohol. But driving under the influence of drugs can lead to the same conviction for DUI as alcohol can. DUI Attorneys are well acquainted with the many drugs that are commonly at the root of a drug DUI charge by the Orange County DISTRICT ATTORNEY. Drugs like Zanex and Vicodin are commonly found in a blood test following an arrest for DUI. But other, often illegal drugs like marijuana, cocaine, heroine and methamphetamine are also commonly alleged as causing impairment in a DUI prosecution. Methamphetamine has become more and more common in recent years.
Methamphetamine, often called chalk, chrissy, crank, crystal, glass, go, hydro, ice, meth, rock candy, speed and whiz, is a central nervous system stimulant. Most methamphetamine is produced in illegal clandestine laboratories. However, it is also produced by pharmaceutical companies in 5, 10, and 15 milligram doses. Orange County criminal defense lawyers know that methamphetamine is used in treatment of narcolepsy, attention deficit disorder (ADD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).  According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Agency (NHTSA) the typical medical doses are from 10 to 40 milligrams per day. Methamphetamine is also sometimes medically used for obesity and some eating disorders.
  DUI Attorneys in Orange County handling a methamphetamine DUI case will want to know what the blood concentration of methamphetamine was for their client. Blood concentrations can often show whether the client has a therapeutic dose in their system or a higher, “abusive” dose. Peak blood concentrations of a person arrested for DUI will typically occur about two-and-a-half hours after taking meth orally. The peak concentrations can occur much earlier when the meth is injected, snorted or smoked.
The effects of methamphetamine on driving can be good or bad. Meth, in the right does, will increase alertness, attentiveness, and reaction time. It helps relieve fatigue and promote a feeling of well-being. Thus, it could actually improve driving ability. However, in high doses, it could cause agitation, lack of attention, extreme restlessness, depressed reflexes, poor coordination and balance, the inability to follow directions, suppressed impulse control, poor high-risk decision making, and paranoia. Typically, the officer conducting field sobriety tests during a DUI investigation for methamphetamine will report that the driver was constantly moving, unable to stand still, couldn’t follow directions, spoke incessantly, and had a dry mouth.
If you were arrested by the California Highway Patrol, Orange County Sheriff’s Department, or a police agency and you are facing charges for first-offense DUI, felony DUI, refusal, or DUI with injury call The Law Offices of EJ Stopyro at (949) 559-5500 today for a free and confidential telephonic consultation. You will speak with an experienced DUI Lawyer in Orange County who will help you understand your options and the DUI penalties  in your case. Or visit our website at www.EJEsquire.com. We have offices at 1901 Newport Blvd., Suite 350, Costa Mesa, CA 92627 and 32072 Camino Capistrano, 2nd floor, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675.

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