{"id":374374,"date":"2016-03-31T21:35:44","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:35:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/mississippi-law\/mississippi-heroin-laws.html"},"modified":"2025-05-22T14:35:22","modified_gmt":"2025-05-22T19:35:22","slug":"mississippi-heroin-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/mississippi-law\/mississippi-heroin-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Mississippi Heroin Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Mississippi Heroin Laws<\/h1>\n
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\n By Samuel Strom, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by FindLaw Staff<\/a>\n | Last reviewed\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

Opioids and opiates are a classification of drugs that people often lump together as pain relievers. Many opioids and opiates are prescription drugs, like hydromorphone and oxycodone. It\u2019s common for a health professional to prescribe opiates and opioids after a surgery or injury.<\/p>\r\n

Unfortunately, the addictive nature and drug abuse associated with opiates and opioids have led to a public health crisis<\/a> in the United States. In 2023, over 130 people died every day<\/a> from opioid-related drug overdoses.<\/p>\r\n

Many opioids and opiates are Schedule I and II drugs under both state and federal law. Schedule I and II drugs are those that have a high potential for abuse, addiction, and either no accepted medical uses or limited medical uses in the United States.<\/p>\r\n

Crimes involving Schedule I drugs are more serious than those involving Schedule II drugs. Those involving Schedule II drugs are more serious than those involving Schedule III drugs, and so on.<\/p>\r\n

Other factors may affect the applicable criminal penalties. For example, the amount of drugs involved in the crime and whether the defendant has prior convictions on their criminal record could affect one\u2019s sentence upon conviction.<\/p>\r\n

The state of Mississippi classifies controlled substances into one of five schedules. It classifies 92 types of opiates (including heroin) and 24 types of opium derivatives as Schedule I drugs. It also classifies 28 types of opium and opiates as Schedule II controlled substances. Examples of drugs in each schedule under Mississippi state law are as follows:<\/p>\r\n