If you are prescribed medication, it is not a crime to possess that medication. Prescription drugs such as oxycodone, hydrocodone,and aprazolam, are legal to possess provided you have a valid prescription.
All too often, good people are wrongly arrested for felony possession charges simply because their pills are not in their properly labeled prescription bottles. It is a good idea to always carry your prescription drugs in their proper bottles with the labels visible so that an officer - should you come into contact with one - can see that you are prescribed the medication.
Carrying your pills in a baggie or non-identifiable container could create problems if you are confronted by law enforcement.
However, if you are arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance and you have a current (can't be expired) prescription, you need to get that information to your attorney immediately so that the State Attorney can be made aware of this and drop (one would hope) the charges against you.
Eric Matheny is a criminal defense attorney serving South Florida.