People from all over the world come to Iowa to attend school. Whether they go to a large university or small college, the fact is that young students experience some considerable challenges when they are away from home.
In addition to the stress and anxiety of studying, work and extracurricular activities, there is also the excitement and freedom that comes with being in college. It can be quite easy to take risks and try things that may not have been feasible for a teen living at home. Mistakes are made, but students may not realize some mistakes have the potential to destroy their future, such as using and/or selling drugs.
Experimentation in college is certainly not new, and neither is the attraction that students have to drugs. Students at any school can experiment with substances like prescription drugs, cocaine, marijuana or MDMA. But even though it may not be uncommon, it is still illegal.
Students might think using drugs or selling them to friends to make some money are not serious offenses. However, law enforcement agencies all across Iowa devote massive resources and efforts to identify criminal drug behavior and arrest any person who may be involved. They want to see these efforts pay off in the form of criminal charges and conviction.
Because of this, students and their parents may be somewhat surprised by the aggressive investigation efforts and extremely harsh penalties that can suddenly put a student’s education, future and freedom in jeopardy.
If you are a college student or the parent of a college student facing allegations of illegal drug use, possession or distribution, you need to understand the seriousness of this situation right away. It will not go away on its own and the police are not always going to explain your options. Speaking with an attorney at our firm can help you level the playing field, understand your rights and make decisions to protect yourself. For more information on our firm’s approach to these cases, please visit our website.