Question
I suffer from multiple injuries to my back.  As a result I have been prescribed oxycodone and ultram for pain.  The oxycodone is for use at home and the ultram while at work.  Today at work I was called in to the office and informed that someone had informed them that I was bringing and using illegal drugs in the work place.  This is not true.  I take my medications only as prescribed and then only if necessary.  I have never used illegal drugs.  I denied the allegations and ask them to search my purse.  They found two ultram and a bottle of blood pressure pills.  I was charged with having  the ultram in an improper container and public intoxication.  I was not intoxicated and insisted on a drug test.  I was taken to the hospital and they drew blood.  I had last taken oxycodone at about 11:00 PM.  I was at work at 9:00 AM.  My question is can the use of this medicine at home 10 hours earlier lead to a charge of public intoxication?  

Answer
While this is more of a legal question than a question regarding injury, I will say that it does appear from your statements that the answer is yes.  However, being charged with something does not make it true.

Though I am not an attorney, I believe that producing the Ultram prescription bottle will verify that the medications are yours.  The drug test should verify the amounts of each drug in your blood. The public intoxication appears to be a matter of someone's perception of your behavior.  Your behavior may have appeared unusual but could have been drug induced.  In addition, the behavioral change might have been unnoticed by you.  Drugs affect each person slightly differently.  The underlying issue is whether you have a reaction to the medications that you are not aware of.  I recommend discussing this with the physician that prescribed your pain medications.

My overall recommendation is that you meet with a reputable attorney to get the correct legal answer for your question.