Can Minors Get Arrested for Driving While on a Prescription?

 Posted on November 06, 2026 in Drug DUI

There is no specific list in Maryland of prescriptions minors are allowed to be on while driving. A licensed minor can usually drive while taking a medication a doctor prescribed. Prescribed drugs only become an issue if they lead to impairment.

If your teen was charged with a DUI involving a prescription in 2026, an Ellicott City, MD DUI attorney can review what happened and explain the possible defenses.

Can a Teen Legally Drive While Taking Prescription Medication in Maryland?

A prescription doesn’t automatically prevent a teenager from driving or protect them from a DUI charge, either. Maryland Transportation Code Section 21-902 bars anyone from driving while so impaired by a drug, or by drugs and alcohol, that they can’t drive safely.

Even if you have a valid prescription, you may be charged with impairment. A first offense can carry up to two months in jail, a $500 fine, or both. The one exception is if you didn’t know the drug would make you unable to drive safely.

Some prescriptions are controlled substances. Having a valid prescription does not protect you from an impaired driving charge, even if you take the medication as directed. If the drug makes you unable to drive safely, you can still face charges. If you are caught driving while impaired by a controlled substance you are not legally entitled to use, penalties are severe. A first offense can mean up to one year in jail and a $1,200 fine.

Which Prescription Medications Will Affect Your Driving Enough to Warrant a DUI in Maryland?

Many common prescriptions don’t affect driving at all. Others can cause drowsiness, slower reactions, or blurred vision, especially in the first few days or after a dose change.

Medications to be aware of include:

• Opioid pain relievers prescribed after surgery or a sports injury
• Some anti-anxiety medications, such as benzodiazepines
• Prescription sleep aids
• Muscle relaxers
• Some allergy medications and antihistamines
• Some antidepressants and seizure medications

Read the warning label and ask the pharmacist whether the drug can affect driving. If the label warns against operating machinery, you should wait to drive until you are confident about how the drug affects you.

What Extra Rules Apply to Minor Maryland Drivers?

Drivers under 21 have stricter limits about alcohol consumption than those 21 or over. Maryland Transportation Code Section 16-113 indicates that every licensed driver under 21 is banned from driving with any alcohol in their blood, not just alcohol over the legal limit.

This is especially relevant for young drivers on medication because of the interactions some drugs can have with alcohol. Some drugs have an amplifying effect that can make the impact of a small amount of alcohol much more pronounced.

A driver under 21 convicted of a DUI or drug-impaired driving may have to use an ignition interlock device for up to three years to keep their license, in addition to other penalties. The MVA can also suspend or revoke a provisional license for violating its restrictions.

What Should You Do if Your Teenager Is Charged With a Prescription DUI in Maryland?

You can start building your defense by establishing whether the prescription was valid or not. Hold onto the prescription records, including the bottle, the pharmacy label, and any instructions from the doctor. These can show whether the drug was taken as directed and whether your teen was warned about driving. Write down what your teen ate, how much they slept, and what meds they took that day. Fatigue or illness can sometimes look like impairment to an officer.

Your teenager doesn’t have to answer police questions about what they took or when. In drug cases, police often rely on an officer’s observations or a drug recognition evaluation rather than a breath test. A defense attorney may fight the charges by questioning how this evaluation was done or how a blood sample was handled.

Call a Rockville, MD DUI Defense Attorney Today

A prescription DUI is still a criminal charge, even when a doctor prescribed the drug, and it needs careful attention.

Our Ellicott City, MD DUI lawyers bring more than 30 years of combined experience to DUI cases. We’re also proud advocates for the Hispanic community on local and national issues that affect Latin Americans and immigrants.

Call Arrested for a DUI, LLC at 301-479-5466 to schedule a free consultation.

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