Possession of Meth in South Carolina

The enforcement of methamphetamine charges in the state of South Carolina has drastically increased as the number of users has skyrocketed in the last five years. Hi, my name’s Dale Savage and I’m a criminal defense attorney here in Charleston, South Carolina. Today we’re going to talk about possession of meth charges and the addiction issues that are often accompany these charges.

What is Possession of Meth?

Methamphetamine has taken over the number one spot from cocaine as the most seized illicit drug in the state of South Carolina. For the state to establish their case, they have to show that you have possession of less than one gram of meth. Possession can either be actual or constructive. And for a first offense, you’re facing up to three years in prison. For a second offense, it’s up to five years in prison. And for a third offense, it’s up to 10 years in prison.

How to Defend This Charge?

When defending these types of cases, a good Charleston Drug Crimes attorney will understand that it’s not just a case of defending someone’s legal rights, you also need to get them help for any underlying substance abuse issues they may need. Because of the strong addictive tendencies of methamphetamine usage, you really need to come up with a two step plan. One that encompasses a legal defense, but also one that encompasses a treatment option so a person can get the help they need so they don’t re-offend further in the future.

Charleston Criminal Defense Attorney

Having a treatment plan as part of your legal defense can be vital as the criminal justice system is slowly starting to change the way it views these types of cases. Our courts are starting to recognize the problems associated with substance abuse and addiction issues. If you have some sort of treatment option as part of your way to resolve the case, the courts are often more than willing to allow you to go down that path as opposed to just sending you to prison. So, if you have a possession of methamphetamine charge and would like to discuss your case, please give me a call, Charleston Criminal Defense Attorney, at (843) 530-7813. I hope this video was helpful and thanks for watching.