Schedule I - V of Substance Abuse Act

Schedule I

• The drug or other substance has a high potential for abuse.

• The drug or other substance has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.

• There is a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision.

• Examples of Schedule I substances include heroin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), marijuana, and methaqualone.

Schedule II

• The drug or other substance has a high potential for abuse.

• 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.

• Abuse of the drug or other substance may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.

• Examples of Schedule II substances include morphine, phencyclidine (PCP), cocaine, methadone, and methamphetamine.

Schedule III

• The drug or other substance has less potential for abuse than the drugs or other substances in schedules I and II.

• The drug or other substance has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.

• Abuse of the drug or other substance may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence.

• Anabolic steroids, codeine and hydrocodone with aspirin or Tylenol®, and some barbiturates are examples of Schedule III substances.

Schedule IV

• The drug or other substance has a low potential for abuse relative to the drugs or other substances in Schedule III.

• The drug or other substance has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.

• 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.

• Examples of drugs included in schedule IV are Darvon®, Talwin®, Equanil®, Valium®, and Xanax®.

Schedule V

• The drug or other substance has a low potential for abuse relative to the drugs or other substances in Schedule IV.

• The drug or other substance has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.

• Abuse of the drug or other substances may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to the drugs or other substances in Schedule IV.

• Cough medicines with codeine are examples of Schedule V drugs.