From the Guidelines
Controlled substances are categorized into five schedules based on their medical use, potential for abuse, and safety, with Schedule 1 having no accepted medical use and high abuse potential, Schedule 2 having accepted medical uses but high abuse potential, Schedule 3 having moderate to low abuse potential, Schedule 4 having low abuse potential, and Schedule 5 containing preparations with limited quantities of certain narcotics 1.
Schedules of Controlled Substances
The scheduling system determines how these medications are prescribed, dispensed, and regulated, with stricter controls on higher scheduled substances.
- Schedule 1 substances have no accepted medical use and high abuse potential, including drugs like heroin, LSD, and marijuana (federally) 1.
- Schedule 2 substances have accepted medical uses but high abuse potential leading to severe dependence, including opioids like oxycodone, stimulants like Adderall, and cocaine, such as morphine, oxymorphone, oxycodone, and hydromorphone 1.
- Schedule 3 drugs have moderate to low abuse potential with accepted medical uses, such as Tylenol with codeine, hydrocodone combination products, and anabolic steroids, including combination products like hydrocodone combined with acetaminophen or ibuprofen 1.
- Schedule 4 substances have low abuse potential compared to Schedule 3 drugs and include medications like Xanax, Valium, and Ambien 1.
- Schedule 5 contains preparations with limited quantities of certain narcotics primarily for antitussive and antidiarrheal purposes, such as cough medicines with small amounts of codeine 1.
Regulation and Prescription
The scheduling system affects how these medications are prescribed and dispensed, with stricter controls on higher scheduled substances, for example, Schedule 2 medications cannot have refills and often require physical prescriptions, while lower schedules may allow for refills and electronic prescriptions 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
DRUG ABUSE AND DEPENDENCE Controlled Substance Diazepam contains diazepam, a Schedule IV controlled substance.
Controlled Substance Class Alprazolam is a controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act by the Drug Enforcement Administration and alprazolam tablets have been assigned to Schedule IV.
9 DRUG ABUSE AND DEPENDENCE 9.1 Controlled Substance Morphine sulfate tablets contain morphine, a Schedule II controlled substance.
The defined meaning of Schedules of Controlled Substances is not explicitly stated in the provided drug labels. However, based on the information provided, we can infer that:
- Schedule II controlled substances, such as morphine, have a high potential for abuse and can lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.
- Schedule IV controlled substances, such as diazepam and alprazolam, have a lower potential for abuse compared to Schedule II substances, but can still lead to physical dependence and addiction.
There is no information provided about Schedules I, III, and V. Therefore, no conclusion can be drawn about these schedules. 2, 3, 4
From the Research
Definition of Schedules of Controlled Substances
The Controlled Substances Act (CSA) establishes a framework for regulating certain substances, including narcotics, stimulants, depressants, and hallucinogens. The CSA categorizes controlled substances into five schedules based on their potential for abuse, medical use, and potential for dependence.
Schedules 1,2,3,4, and 5 of Controlled Substances
- Schedule 1: Substances with a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use, such as heroin and LSD 5.
- Schedule 2: Substances with a high potential for abuse, but also accepted medical use, such as oxycodone, fentanyl, and morphine 5.
- Schedule 3: Substances with a moderate potential for abuse and accepted medical use, such as hydrocodone and codeine 5.
- Schedule 4: Substances with a low potential for abuse and accepted medical use, such as alprazolam and diazepam 5.
- Schedule 5: Substances with a very low potential for abuse and accepted medical use, such as cough medicines containing codeine 5.
Key Points
- The scheduling of controlled substances is based on their potential for abuse, medical use, and potential for dependence 5.
- The CSA provides a framework for regulating controlled substances, including narcotics, stimulants, depressants, and hallucinogens 5.
- The scheduling of controlled substances can impact their availability, use, and potential for abuse 6, 7, 8, 9.