Chapter 63

Federal Pharmacy Law

Card 1 of 7The Schedules

Chapter Opening

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The five schedules

Schedules of Controlled Substances

The Controlled Substances Act places drugs with abuse potential into Schedules I-V, administered by the DEA (the Attorney General has authority to schedule). Abuse potential decreases from I to V. Schedule I has no accepted medical use and cannot be dispensed; Schedules II-V have accepted medical uses with decreasing dependence risk.

Schedule IHigh abuse, NO medical useCannot be dispensed (research only); designer drugs

Schedule IIHigh abuse, accepted useSevere dependence; no refills; DEA 222 to order

Schedule IIILess abuse than I/IIModerate/low physical or high psychological dependence

Schedule IVLow abuse vs IIILimited dependence; up to 5 refills in 6 months

Schedule VLowest abuseLimited dependence; no federal refill limit

Schedule I Cannot Be Dispensed

Schedule I drugs have a high abuse potential, NO currently accepted medical use, and lack accepted safety -- they cannot be kept in a pharmacy or dispensed except at registered research facilities. A controlled substance analogue (designer drug) intended for human consumption is treated as Schedule I. The Attorney General (via the DEA) schedules substances.

📖 “Controlled Substances Act: Schedules I-V (DEA/Attorney General). Abuse decreases I to V. Schedule I: high abuse, no medical use, cannot dispense (research only); designer drugs = Schedule I. II: high abuse, accepted use, severe dependence. III: less abuse, moderate/low physical or high psychological. IV: low abuse vs III. V: lowest abuse.”