A controlled substance is a drug or compound that has the potential for causing physical and/or psychological dependence if abused. Controlled substances are divided into different schedules to reflect clinical use and danger of developing dependence.
Schedule |
Abuse Potential |
Risk of Dependence |
Medical Use |
I |
high |
may cause severe psychological and/or physical dependence |
none accepted, and lacks accepted safety for use |
II |
high |
severe psychological and/or physical dependence |
accepted use but with severe restrictions |
III |
less than Schedule I or II |
low to moderate physical dependence, OR high psychological dependence |
accepted use |
IV |
less than Schedule III |
limited psychological and/or physical dependence |
accepted use |
V |
less than Schedule IV |
limited psychological and/or physical dependence |
accepted use |
where:
• Some Schedule I substances are highly addictive, while others are less so. The main characteristic is the absence of an accepted medical use.
Schedule |
Examples |
I |
heroin, phencyclidine, LSD, marijuana, mescaline, methaqualone, peyote, MOMA, psilocybin, N-ethylamphetamine, acetylmethadol, tenethylline, tilidine, dihydromorphine |
II |
amobarbital, secobarbital, pentobarbital, methadone, sufentanyl, fentanyl, amphetamine, codeine, cocaine, morphine, opium |
III |
gluthimide, methylprylon, compounds with small quantities of cocaine, combinations with a Schedule II barbiturate and a noncontrolled substance |
IV |
chloral hydrate, benzodiazepines, phenobarbital, anabolic steroids, human growth hormone |
V |
combinations with limited amounts of codeine or other narcotic drug with non-narcotic agents; compounds with minimal amounts of codeine for antitussive, antidiarrheal or analgesic purposes |
Specialty: Pharmacology, clinical
ICD-10: ,