I have taken prescription hydrocodone fand alprazolam for many years. Last fall I took both at 10 AM and went to sleep driving the following midnight. The officer who responded charged me with DUI based on the results of a urine test which first tested positive for opiates and alprazolam then for alprazolam and its one metabolite, hydrocodone and its two metabolites and oxycodone and its pne metabolite. I have never taken oxycodone in my entire life, and suddenly this shows up on what appears to be two separate tests. The samples were destroyed before the Iowa DOT provided my attorney with the results. I am disabled so this won't effect my work, but I still don't want a DUI conviction on my record, much less a false conviction. Can someone please help me to understand if I have any options. My attorney doesn't understand chemistry and neither do I! Also, my physician signed a statement that I am safe to drive while taking hydrocodone and alprazolam; I retook and passed the driving tests; and I provided my pharmacy records confirming the prescriptions except for the phantom oxycodone. Thank you.

Having a legal prescription isn't an out on a DUI. If they detect levels enough to effect your ability to operate a vehicle legally... they can and will issue summons and you can and will be found guilty.

Seriously... that's exactly why they have warnings on the bottles of so many kinds of medications... many far less powerful.

You my friend have a seriously difficult uphill battle and the odds are very much against you. Its not just alcohol or illegal drugs that can hang you... lots of legal and prescribed ones will do it just as easily.