Under federal law, how are controlled substances classified?

Controlled substances are classified under federal law primarily based on their potential for abuse. The Controlled Substances Act (CSA) categorizes drugs into schedules ranging from Schedule I to Schedule V. Schedule I substances have a high potential for abuse, no accepted medical use, and a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision, while substances in Schedule II through V have progressively lower abuse potential and accepted medical uses with specific regulations governing their distribution and prescription.

This classification system reflects the need to regulate substances that pose significant risks of addiction or abuse, allowing for stricter controls on those drugs deemed more dangerous in order to protect public health and safety. By focusing on potential for abuse, the system aims to prevent misuse and the societal problems associated with drug abuse.

While therapeutic effects, chemical structure, and availability can play roles in understanding a substance, they are not the defining criteria for classification under the CSA. Each schedule is tailored to evaluate abuse potential alongside accepted medical use, which highlights the central concern of regulating substances that could be misused.