Is driving while taking vicodin illegal?

Question

My friend just got into a car accident where he rear ended someone. He was driving a work vehicle so his work is sending someone out to the accident scene to give him a drug test. My friend currently has a rib fracture and has been prescribed vicodin. He said the last pill he took was this morning. He rear ended someone so it will most likely be his fault. Will the vicodin come into play if he has a legal prescription for it and has been taking it as prescribed? He said there is no warning label on the bottle that says he should not drive.

Answer 1

  it  will  say  do  not  operate  any  kind  of  machinery  while  taking  this medication and  it  will  say  the  dosage  in  the  container  of  the  MEDS  so.....I'll  think  about  what  I  have  to  say  first ,it  is  a  prescription  narcotics  so  be  careful.....good  luck  to  you........&  your  friend  .

Answer 2

I don't know why there isn't a warning on the bottle.  If there is no warning most states have laws to give the patients information sheets on the medications they are taking.  They say not operate equipment on those sheets.

A DUI is a DUI.

Answer 3

Even though he has a script, he should have informed his employer and should NOT have been driving.  If it shows in his drug test, he will be held liable, and there is a large chance his company's insurance wont cover it.  There is also a large chance that his company will press charges, and if not, he probably wont have a job for much longer.

Its a misconcepeption that you cant get in trouble at work if you have a script, especially with things like this situation.

There may not have been a warning specifically on the bottle, but I bet my life there was a warning with the paper info that came with it.  But likely there is a label that says something along the lines of, may cause drowsiness or dizziness and one that says, do not operate heavy machinery.

But, even if it doesnt, that isnt an excuse.  Very rarely does the law excuse for ignorance.

Answer 4

Yes it is.  Vicodin contains hydromorphone which is a opiate related to morphine, heroine, etc.  It can definitely affect your ability to drive and you can definitely get a DUI for it.

Answer 5

If there wasn't a warning label, then I don't see how it could be illegal.  I'm not a doctor, this is just a guess.