Drug Schedules

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Drug Schedules

Drugs, substances, and certain chemicals used to make drugs are classified 
into five (5) distinct categories or schedules depending upon the drug’s 
acceptable medical use and the drug’s abuse or dependency potential. 
The abuse rate is a determinate factor in the scheduling of the drug; 
for example, Schedule I drugs have a high potential for abuse and 
the potential to create severe psychological and/or physical dependence. 

As the drug schedule changes-- Schedule II, Schedule III, etc., so 

does the abuse potential-- 

Schedule V drugs represents the least potential for abuse. 
A Listing of drugs and their schedule are located at 
Controlled Substance Act (CSA) Scheduling or 

CSA Scheduling by Alphabetical Order. 

These lists describes the basic or parent chemical and do 

not necessarily describe the salts, isomers and salts of isomers, 

esters, ethers and derivatives which may also be classified as 

controlled substances. These lists are intended as general references 

and are not comprehensive listings of all controlled substances.

Please note that a substance need not be listed as a controlled substance 
to be treated as a Schedule I substance for criminal prosecution. 
A controlled substance analogue is a substance which is intended for 
human consumption and is structurally or pharmacologically substantially 
similar to or is represented as being similar to a Schedule I or Schedule II 
substance and is not an approved medication in the United States. 
(See 21 U.S.C. §802(32)(A) for the definition of a controlled 
substance analogue and 21 U.S.C. §813 for the schedule.)

Schedule I

Schedule I drugs, substances, or chemicals are defined as drugs 
with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. 
Some examples of Schedule I drugs are:
heroin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), marijuana (cannabis), 

3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (ecstasy), methaqualone, and peyote

Schedule II

Schedule II drugs, substances, or chemicals are defined as drugs with 
a high potential for abuse, with use potentially leading to severe psychological 
or physical dependence. These drugs are also considered dangerous. 
Some examples of Schedule II drugs are:
Combination products with less than 15 milligrams of hydrocodone per 

dosage unit (Vicodin), cocaine, methamphetamine, methadone, 
hydromorphone (Dilaudid), meperidine (Demerol), 

oxycodone (OxyContin), 
fentanyl, Dexedrine, Adderall, and Ritalin

Schedule III

Schedule III drugs, substances, or chemicals are defined as drugs with 
a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence. 
Schedule III drugs abuse potential is less than Schedule I and Schedule II drugs 
but more than Schedule IV. Some examples of Schedule III drugs are:
Products containing less than 90 milligrams of codeine per dosage unit 

(Tylenol with codeine), ketamine, anabolic steroids, 

testosterone

Schedule IV

Schedule IV drugs, substances, or chemicals are defined as drugs with a 
low potential for abuse and low risk of dependence. 
Some examples of Schedule IV drugs are:
Xanax, Soma, Darvon, Darvocet, Valium, Ativan, 
Talwin, Ambien, Tramadol


Schedule V

Schedule V drugs, substances, or chemicals are defined as drugs with 
lower potential for abuse than Schedule IV and consist of preparations 
containing limited quantities of certain narcotics. 
Schedule V drugs are generally used for antidiarrheal, antitussive, 

and analgesic purposes. Some examples of Schedule V drugs are:

cough preparations with less than 200 milligrams of codeine or 
per 100 milliliters (Robitussin AC), Lomotil, Motofen, Lyrica, 
Parepectolin



Alphabetical listing of Controlled Substances