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Prescriptions may interact with alcohol and result in a DUI

On Behalf of | Jun 22, 2021 | Drunk Driving

When going off to college, one of the things that parents may worry about is their children drinking too much and getting into trouble with the law. That can happen, but parents can help prevent some potential issues by talking to their children about the risks of a DUI, particularly if they combine alcohol with other substances. 

If your young adult drinks alcohol and decides to drive, they may face a charge for driving under the influence if they appear impaired, even if their blood alcohol concentration is under .08%. One way this could happen is by mixing alcohol with prescription medication.

Why shouldn’t you mix prescription drugs and alcohol?

Prescription medications often interact with alcohol, though not all do. When you talk to your child about this topic, remind them that their medication bottle should mention any serious side effects or give them information on how the drug interacts with alcohol. However, this is not a guarantee, and they should see how they react to the drug prior to going out, driving or drinking. 

Sometimes, mixing prescription medications heightens the side effects of a drug. Other times, mixing them may create a life-threatening reaction. For this reason, it’s always important to read the patient literature or to talk to the pharmacist about interactions. Some prescriptions may contain alcohol, too, which increases the risk of a DUI if someone doesn’t know that they’re ingesting more alcohol than they thought. 

Mixing prescriptions with alcohol could lead to a DUI. If that happens, then it’s time to look into your legal options and to take action to defend against unnecessary or harsh penalties. 

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