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Home > Data & Research > Prescription Monitoring Program > Controlled Substances Act

Controlled Substances Act

The Controlled Substances Act categorizes drugs and substances into one of five schedules based on their medical use, abuse and addiction potential, and harmfulness. Schedule I drugs have the highest abuse potential. Heroin falls into the Schedule I category, drugs that have no accepted medical use in the United States. Schedule II drugs include OxyContin, morphine, and Ritalin. Schedule III drugs include anabolic steroids and Tylenol (acetaminophen) with codeine.
Legitimate handlers of controlled substances, such as hospitals and pharmacies, have to register with the Drug Enforcement Administration and use their registration numbers to purchase drugs. They must maintain complete and accurate records of all quantities manufactured, purchased, and sold. Drugs with higher abuse potential are subject to more restrictions than other drugs. For example, registered handlers must use a special order form to obtain Schedule II drugs. And orders for these drugs must be written and signed by practitioners and not phoned into the pharmacy except in an emergency. Prescriptions for Schedule II drugs also may not be refilled; patients have to go back to the doctor first. Those convicted of unlawful manufacturing, distributing, and dispensing of controlled substances face fines, prison sentences, or both.

Most Commonly Abused


• Opioids: Also known as narcotic analgesics. Used to treat pain, opioids are the most commonly abused prescription drugs. Examples include morphine, codeine, OxyContin (oxycodone), Vicodin (hydrocodone) and Demerol (meperidine). In the short term, these drugs block pain messages and cause drowsiness. A large single dose can cause severe respiratory depression and death. Long-term use leads to physical dependence and, in some cases, addiction.
• Central nervous system depressants: Commonly used to treat anxiety, panic attacks, and sleep disorders. Examples are Nembutal (pentobarbital sodium), Valium (diazepam), and Xanax (alprazolam). They slow down normal brain function and can cause a sleepy, uncoordinated feeling in the beginning of treatment. Long-term use can lead to physical dependence and addiction.
• Central nervous system stimulants: Commonly used to treat the sleeping disorder narcolepsy and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Examples include Ritalin (methylphenidate) and Dexedrine (dextroamphetamine). These drugs, which can be addictive, enhance brain activity and increase alertness and energy. They elevate blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration. Very high doses can lead to irregular heartbeat and high body temperature. The information above was reproduced from: “Prescription Drug Use and Abuse” FDA Consumer magazine September-October 20“. http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2001/501_drug.html

Schedule Drugs Definitions

  • (1) Schedule I. -

    (A) The drug or other substance has a high potential for abuse.
    (B) The drug or other substance has no currently accepted medical use in
    treatment in the United States.
    (C) There is a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance
    under medical supervision.

  • (2) Schedule II. -
    (A) The drug or other substance has a high potential for abuse.
    (B) The drug or other substance has a currently accepted medical use in
    treatment in the United States or a currently accepted medical use with
    severe restrictions.
    (C) Abuse of the drug or other substances may lead to severe psychological or
    physical dependence.

  • (3) Schedule III. -
    (A) The drug or other substance has a potential for abuse less than the drugs or
    other substances in schedules I and II.
    (B) The drug or other substance has a currently accepted medical use in
    treatment in the United States.
    (C) Abuse of the drug or other substance may lead to moderate or low physical
    dependence or high psychological dependence.

  • (4) Schedule IV. -
    (A) The drug or other substance has a low potential for abuse relative to the
    drugs or other substances in schedule III.
    (B) The drug or other substance has a currently accepted medical use in
    treatment in the United States.
    (C) Abuse of the drug or other substance may lead to limited physical
    dependence or psychological dependence relative to the drugs or other
    substances in schedule III.


    SCHEDULE I
    (a) Opiates
    Unless specifically excepted or unless listed in another schedule, any of the following opiates, including their isomers, esters, ethers, salts, and salts of isomers, esters, and ethers, whenever the existence of such isomers, esters, ethers, and salts is possible within the specific chemical designation:
    (1) Acetylmethadol.
    (2) Allylprodine.
    (3) Alphacetylmathadol. (FOOTNOTE 2) (FOOTNOTE 2) So in original. Probably should
    be ''Alphacetylmethadol.''
    (4) Alphameprodine.
    (5) Alphamethadol.
    (6) Benzethidine.
    (7) Betacetylmethadol.
    (8) Betameprodine.
    (9) Betamethadol.
    (10) Betaprodine.
    (11) Clonitazene.
    (12) Dextromoramide.
    (13) Dextrorphan.
    (14) Diampromide.
    (15) Diethylthiambutene.
    (16) Dimenoxadol.
    (17) Dimepheptanol.
    (18) Dimethylthiambutene.
    (19) Dioxaphetyl butyrate.
    (20) Dipipanone.
    (21) Ethylmethylthiambutene.
    (22) Etonitazene.
    (23) Etoxeridine.
    (24) Furethidine.
    (25) Hydroxypethidine.
    (26) Ketobemidone.
    (27) Levomoramide.
    (28) Levophenacylmorphan.
    (29) Morpheridine.
    (30) Noracymethadol.
    (31) Norlevorphanol.
    (32) Normethadone.
    (33) Norpipanone.
    (34) Phenadoxone.
    (35) Phenampromide.
    (36) Phenomorphan.
    (37) Phenoperidine.
    (38) Piritramide.
    (39) Propheptazine.
    (40) Properidine.
    (41) Racemoramide.
    (42) Trimeperidine.

(b) Opium Derivatives
Unless specifically excepted or unless listed in another schedule, any of the following opium derivatives, their salts, isomers, and salt of isomers whenever the existence of such salts, isomers, and salts of isomers is possible within the specific chemical designation:
(1) Acetorphine.
(2) Acetyldihydrocodeine.
(3) Benzylmorphine.
(4) Codeine methylbromide.
(5) Codeine-N-Oxide.
(6) Cyprenorphine.
(7) Desomorphine.
(8) Dihydromorphine.
(9) Etorphine.
(10) Heroin.
(11) Hydromorphinol.
(12) Methyldesorphine.
(13) Methylhydromorphine.
(14) Morphine methylbromide.
(15) Morphine methylsulfonate.
(16) Morphine-N-Oxide.
(17) Myrophine.
(18) Nicocodeine.
(19) Nicomorphine.
(20) Normorphine.
(21) Pholcodine.
(22) Thebacon.

(c) Hallucinogenic Substances
Unless specifically excepted or unless listed in another schedule, any material, compound, mixture, or preparation, which contains any quantity of the following hallucinogenic substances, or which contains any of their salts, isomers, and salts of isomers whenever the existence of such salts, isomers, and salts of isomers is possible within the specific chemical designation:
(1) 3,4-methylenedioxy amphetamine.
(2) 5-methoxy-3,4-methylenedioxy amphetamine.
(3) 3,4,5-trimethoxy amphetamine.
(4) Bufotenine.
(5) Diethyltryptamine.
(6) Dimethyltryptamine.
(7) 4-methyl-2,5-diamethoxyamphetamine.
(8) Ibogaine.
(9) Lysergic acid diethylamide.
(10) Marihuana.
(11) Mescaline.
(12) Peyote.
(13) N-ethyl-3-piperidyl benzilate.
(14) N-methyl-3-piperidyl benzilate.
(15) Psilocybin.
(16) Psilocyn.
(17) Tetrahydrocannabinols.

SCHEDULE II
(a) Unless specifically excepted or unless listed in another schedule, any of the following substances whether produced directly or indirectly by extraction from substances of vegetable origin, or independently by means of chemical synthesis, or by a combination of extraction and chemical synthesis:
(1) Opium and opiate, and any salt, compound, derivative, or preparation of opium or opiate.
(2) Any salt, compound, derivative, or preparation thereof which is chemically equivalent or
identical with any of the substances referred to in clause (1), except that these substances
shall not include the isoquinoline alkaloids of opium.
(3) Opium poppy and poppy straw.
(4) coca (FOOTNOTE 3) leaves, except coca leaves and extracts of coca leaves from which cocaine, ecgonine, and derivatives of ecgonine or their salts have been removed; cocaine, its salts, optical and geometric isomers, and salts of isomers; ecgonine, its derivatives, their salts, isomers, and salts of isomers; or any compound, mixture, or preparation which contains any quantity of any of the substances referred to in this paragraph. (FOOTNOTE 3) So in original. Probably should be capitalized.
(b) Opiates
Unless specifically excepted or unless listed in another schedule, any of the following opiates, including their isomers, esters, ethers, salts, and salts of isomers, esters and ethers, whenever the existence of such isomers, esters, ethers, and salts is possible within the specific chemical designation:
(1) Alphaprodine.
(2) Anileridine.
(3) Bezitramide.
(4) Dihydrocodeine.
(5) Diphenoxylate.
(6) Fentanyl.
(7) Isomethadone.
(8) Levomethorphan.
(9) Levorphanol.
(10) Metazocine.
(11) Methadone.
(12) Methadone-Intermediate, 4-cyano-2-dimethylamino-4,4-diphenyl butane.
(13) Moramide-Intermediate, 2-methyl-3-morpholino-1, 1-diphenylpropane-carboxylic acid.
(14) Pethidine.
(15) Pethidine-Intermediate-A, 4-cyano-1-methyl-4-phenylpiperidine.
(16) Pethidine-Intermediate-B, ethyl-4-phenylpiperidine-4-carboxylate.
(17) Pethidine-Intermediate-C, 1-methyl-4-phenylpiperidine-4-carboxylic acid.
(18) Phenazocine.
(19) Piminodine.
(20) Racemethorphan.
(21) Racemorphan.
(c) Methamphetamine
Unless specifically excepted or unless listed in another schedule, any injectable liquid which contains any quantity of methamphetamine, including its salts, isomers, and salts of isomers.

SCHEDULE III
(a) Stimulants
Unless specifically excepted or unless listed in another schedule, any material, compound, mixture, or preparation which contains any quantity of the following substances having a stimulant effect on the central nervous system:
(1) Amphetamine, its salts, optical isomers, and salts of its optical isomers.
(2) Phenmetrazine and its salts.
(3) Any substance (except an injectable liquid) which contains any quantity of methamphetamine,
including its salts, isomers, and salts of isomers.
(4) Methylphenidate.
(b) Depressants
Unless specifically excepted or unless listed in another schedule, any material, compound, mixture, or preparation which contains any quantity of the following substances having a depressant effect on the central nervous system:
(1) Any substance which contains any quantity of a derivative of barbituric acid, or any salt of a
derivative of barbituric acid.
(2) Chorhexadol.
(3) Glutehimide.
(4) Lysergic acid.
(5) Lysergic acid amide.
(6) Methyprylon.
(7) Phencyclidine.
(8) Sulfondiethylmethane.
(9) Sulfonethylmethane.
(10) Sulfonmethane.
(c) Nalorphine.
(d) Narcotic Drug
Unless specifically excepted or unless listed in another schedule, any material, compound, mixture, or preparation containing limited quantities of any of the following narcotic drugs, or any salts thereof:
(1) Not more than 1.8 grams of codeine per 100 milliliters or not more than 90 milligrams per
dosage unit, with an equal or greater quantity of an isoquinoline alkaloid of opium.
(2) Not more than 1.8 grams of codeine per 100 milliliters or not more than 90 milligrams per
dosage unit, with one or more active, non-narcotic ingredients in recognized therapeutic
amounts.
(3) Not more than 300 milligrams of dihydrocodeinone per 100 milliliters or not more than 15
milligrams per dosage unit, with a fourfold or greater quantity of an isoquinoline alkaloid of
opium.
(4) Not more than 300 milligrams of dihydrocodeinone per 100 milliliters or not more than 15
milligrams per dosage unit, with one or more active, nonnarcotic ingredients in recognized
therapeutic amounts.
(5) Not more than 1.8 grams of dihydrocodeine per 100 milliliters or not more than 90 milligrams
per dosage unit, with one or more active, nonnarcotic ingredients in recognized therapeutic
amounts.
(6) Not more than 300 milligrams of ethylmorphine per 100 milliliters or not more than 15
milligrams per dosage unit, with one or more active, nonnarcotic ingredients in recognized
therapeutic amounts.
(7) Not more than 500 milligrams of opium per 100 milliliters or per 100 grams, or not more than
25 milligrams per dosage unit, with one or more active, nonnarcotic ingredients in recognized
therapeutic amounts.
(8) Not more than 50 milligrams of morphine per 100 milliliters or per 100 grams with one or more
active, nonnarcotic ingredients in recognized therapeutic amounts.
(e) Anabolic steroids.

SCHEDULE IV
(1) Barbital.
(2) Chloral betaine.
(3) Chloral hydrate.
(4) Ethchlorvynol.
(5) Ethinamate.
(6) Methohexital.
(7) Meprobamate.
(8) Methylphenobarbital.
(9) Paraldehyde.
(10) Petrichloral.
(11) Phenobarbital.

 

The Scheduled Drug List above was reproduced from the U.S. F.D.A. website (June, 2004):

http://www.fda.gov/opacom/laws/cntrlsub/cntlsbb.htm