Ashtabula County Felony Drug Court

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What is a Felony Drug Court?

The Ashtabula County Felony Drug Court treatment program is a felony-level program where participants who successfully complete the program can either have the felony charged against them dismissed, or if they have been convicted of a felony, can avoid a prison sentence.

What are felony-level drug offenses?

Ohio drug possession laws are codified by Ohio Revised Code Section 2925.11 and define possession of controlled substances as “knowingly obtaining, possessing, or using a controlled substance.” Controlled substances are classified into five schedules, ranging from the most serious drugs (Schedule I) to the least serious (Schedule V). Possession of more serious drugs carries more severe penalties. 

Schedule I and II Controlled Substances

Possession of most Schedule I or II controlled substances is aggravated possession of drugs under Ohio drug laws, with felonies ranging from a fifth degree felony to a first degree felony plus major drug offender status.

  • Schedule I drugs have a high potential for addiction and have no accepted medical uses, such as heroin, LSD, methaqualone, ecstasy, and peyote. (Ohio law allows for medical use of marijuana with an approved license.)
  • Schedule II drugs have a high potential for addiction but with limited accepted medical uses, such as cocaine, methamphetamine, methadone, Dexedrine, Adderall, Ritalin, Vicodin, OxyContin, Demerol, Dilaudid, and fentanyl.

Note: In order to be charged for a felony involving medications, the offender must not have a valid prescription and/or must possess an amount greater than their prescription dictates. 

Schedule III, IV, and V Controlled Substances

Possession of Schedule III, IV, and V controlled substances constitutes felonies ranging from a fourth-degree felony to a second-degree felony.

  • Schedule III drugs have a moderate to low potential for addiction and have accepted medical uses, such as codeine, ketamine, anabolic steroids, and testosterone.
  • Schedule IV drugs have a low potential for addiction and have accepted medical uses, such as prescription sedatives Xanax, Soma, Darvon, Darvocet, Valium, Ativan, Talwin, Ambien, and Tramadol.
  • Schedule V drugs have the least potential for addiction and the most common medical uses, such as antidiarrheals and cough suppressants.

Note: In order to be charged for a felony involving medications such as sedatives, the offender must not have a valid prescription and/or must possess an amount greater than their prescription dictates. 

What does treatment through the Felony Drug Court involve?

The levels of care required vary for each participant in the Felony Drug Court program, ranging from residential treatment and partial hospitalization to intensive outpatient (IOP) treatment. 

The Lake Area Recovery Center Felony Drug Court Treatment Team includes professionals who are highly-trained in handling judicial matters relating to substance use and providing evidence-based therapies such as:

  • Individualized substance use disorder treatment
  • Integrating dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) with the Twelve Steps program
  • Relapse prevention
  • Peer support and case management management services
  • Individual and group counseling

We hold various outpatient addiction recovery programs that address the complex issues surrounding substance use and criminal behavior:

Contact Lake Area Recovery Center for more information on our addiction recovery treatment services.