Health & Safety Code · ch. 483

Dangerous Drugs

Dangerous Drugs (ch. 483): key points and worked practice questions for Texas peace officer exam preparation.

Key points

  • Prescription drug not in PG 1-4
  • Possession without valid prescription
  • §483.041 — Class A misdemeanor

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Worked examples

Worked example 1

Tex. Health & Safety Code §483 covers 'dangerous drugs' — generally:

  1. Anabolic steroids only
  2. Prescription drugs not in PG 1-4 (e.g., antibiotics, blood pressure meds, certain non-controlled prescription drugs); possession without a prescription is a Class A misdemeanor Correct
  3. Marijuana
  4. Tobacco
Why: Dangerous drugs are prescription drugs NOT in the controlled-substance penalty groups. Possession without a prescription is a Class A misdemeanor (§483.041). Often charged when officers find prescription drugs in pill bottles other than the pharmacy bottle issued to the holder.
Statute: Tex. Health & Safety Code ch. 483

Statutory definitions for this topic

Dangerous drug (Ch. 483) Tex. Health & Safety Code ch. 483; §483.041
A device or drug that is unsafe for self-medication and is not in Schedules I–V or Penalty Groups 1–4 of the Controlled Substances Act; it includes items that bear or must bear the "Rx only" (or equivalent federal) legend (§483.001(2)). Possessing one without obtaining it from a pharmacist or practitioner as §483.042 describes is a Class A misdemeanor (§483.041(a), (d)).