I overdosed on herion today and the police took my phone to look for "drug trends". The nurse at the hospital called the station before I left, and they informed her that I may never get my phone back. Can they legally do this? What are my options here? I don't want to lose all my pictures and files :(
Call an attorney now. Not tomorrow morning, now.
Depending on the jurisdiction, there are steps that can be taken, but you're going to need representation any second now anyway. The state has seized your property without your consent, and there are things you can do.
But they've already seen any "drug related" texts on your phone.
You are being investigated, so is your dealer. There are probably going to be warrants sworn out tomorrow. Depending on what they find on your phone, they might have PC already.
Stop posting on drug related reddits, wipe incriminating evidence from your hard drives and storage, and destroy any information relating to drugs or Darknet marketplaces, anywhere in your possession or on your property. Every...Thing. Shred or burn anything and everything. Get rid of all your paraphernalia, envelopes, baggies, syringes. Every. Fucking. Thing.
If and when they knock on your door, don't open your mouth to say anything other than, "I want to speak to my attorney."
Good luck. You're going to need it. There might be some interesting times in your immediate future. Approach this as an opportunity to learn something about the criminal justice system. If you don't come out the other side "reformed and rehabilitated," at least it will make you a smarter criminal. That's pretty much what it does best.