Massachusetts Heroin Possession Charge Lawyers serving Massachusetts and the Greater Boston area including South Boston, Brockton, Cambridge, Somerville, Quincy, New Bedford, Taunton, Attleboro, Lowell, Woburn, Medford, Waltham, Wareham, Lynn, Lawrence, Wrentham, Dedham, Salem, Fall River, Brookline, Chelsea, Worcester, Framingham, Everett, Revere, Dorchester and Roxbury and all smaller cities and rural areas in Massachusetts.

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Criminal Penalties for Possession of Heroin

Possession of Heroin is one of the most serious drug crimes in Massachusetts. Penalties for heroin possession are governed by Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 94C. Heroin is a Class A Substance and conviction for possession of heroin carries the following penalties:

  • 1st Offense: Up to 2 ½ years in a House of Corrections or County Jail and/or a fine of up to $2,000. An additional fine of $150 to $500. Loss of drivers license for 1 year.
  • 2nd Offense: Between 2 ½ and 5 years in a state prison or a $5,000 fine and up to 2 ½ years in a House of Corrections or County Jail. An additional fine of $150 to $500. Loss of drivers license for 1 year.

Additional penalties exist if the heroin possession occurred within 1000 feet of public or private school grounds or within 100 feet of a playground. [Read more about facing drug charges in a school zone.]

Related Charges:  Knowingly Present Where Heroin is Kept

Drug Facts About Heroin

Drug Name: Heroin

Common Street Names for Heroin: Big H, Black, Black Tar, Boy, Brown Sugar, China White, Chiva, Dope, H, Hell Dust, Horse, Junk, Mexican Brown, Negra, Nixon, Skag, Smack, Tar, Thunder

Scheduled Drug Classification: Heroin is a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act meaning that it has a high potential for abuse, no currently accepted medical use in treat and the United States, and a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision.

What is heroin? Heroin is one of the most addictive illegal drugs. Heroin is made from morphine which is an opiate that is extracted from poppy seeds. Opium poppies are primarily grown in South America, Mexico and Southwest and Southeast Asia. Most of the Heroin found in the United States comes from Mexico even though the majority off the world’s supply comes from Afghanistan. Black Tar Heroin is a less pure form of Heroine. It comes from Mexico and is prevalent in the south. Most of the Heroin in the Northeast and Midwest comes from South America.

Street Heroin is rarely pure. Typically sold as a white or brown powder, heroin is cut with sugar, powdered milk or starch. Pure heroin is often snorted or smoked. However, most users inject heroine.

Health Effects

Continuous injections can cause veins to collapse which can lead to infections in the blood vessels and heart valves. 70 percent of the 35,000 new Hepatitis C2 infections that occur in the United States are due to needle use associated with drug use.

Increased tolerance develops with increased drug use. This results in the use of higher doses to achieve a high. As use and tolerance increase so too does physical dependence. This often leads to withdrawals which can occur a few hours after the drug is administered. Withdrawal symptoms include: strong craving, vomiting, insomnia, aching sensation in the muscles and bones, diarrhea, cold sweats, itching. Long-term effects include: weakened immune system, respiratory illness, inability to achieve orgasm, memory loss, decreased intellectual performance, menstrual problems in women, bad teeth, inflamed gums, coma and depression.

Experienced Drug Charges / Heroin Possession Defense Attorneys

If you have been charged with any drug possession, manufacturing, distribution, or drug trafficking charge, we invite you to call our criminal defense attorneys and take an the first important step in resolving this matter. A drug conviction on your record can follow you around for the rest of your life. Whether this is your first offense, second or other repeat offense, call our law office today to get the help you need and put our experience with the court system to work for you.

No matter where you are located, we are just a phone call away. Call an experienced Massachusetts Drug Crime Attorney to schedule a free no-obligation case review and consultation at (508) 588-0422 and you will have taken your first step to find out how best to confront this important matter. You can also click here to use our Free Case Evaluation Form.

Our knowledgeable and experienced Greater Massachusetts Heroin Dealing Lawyers at The Law Offices of Gerald J. Noonan are available to assist clients throughout all of Massachusetts, including but not limited to Plymouth County including Brockton, Plymouth, Bridgewater, Marshfield, Hingham, Duxbury, Scituate, Hanover, Wareham, Abington, Rockland, Whitman, Hanson, Holbrook, Kingston, Middleborough; Norfolk County including Quincy, Stoughton, Dedham, Weymouth, Braintree, Avon, Holbrook, Randolph, Canton, Sharon, Brookline, Franklin; Bristol County including New Bedford, Fall River, Taunton, Attleboro, Dartmouth, Westport, Mansfield, Easton, Raynham, Lakeville, Norton; Cape Cod, Falmouth, Barnstable.