Many drugs are publically available in stores. Others may be prescribed by doctors or used in medical fields. And, some are too dangerous for any kind of use. The Controlled Substance Act (CSA) determines whether a drug can be legally used and by whom.
The CSA was signed in 1970 for the purpose of combining previously existing federal drug laws used to regulate substances. To manage the use of substances, drugs are categorized into schedules. Here is what you should know:
5 types of schedules
There are five total drug schedules. Each schedule determines whether a substance can be legally obtained and used based on its tendency to cause addiction and abuse and its medical use. The following are substances and their respective schedules:
- Schedule V: Cough supplements and codeine
- Schedule IV: Xanax, Valium and Ambien
- Schedule III: Steroids, testosterone and ibuprofen
- Schedule II: Ritalin, oxycodone, fentanyl, cocaine, morphine and methamphetamine
- Schedule I: Heroine, LSD, peyote and ecstasy
Most Schedule V drugs can be purchased over the counter. Substances become less accessible as the categorization goes up. Drugs that are categorized as Schedule I are deemed to have no medical uses. There are some efforts to change the categorization of certain drugs.
Schedule I drugs often hold the highest criminal charges if a suspect is found in possession of them. The possession of a small amount of a Schedule I substance can lead to lengthy prison time and high fines. However, wrongful possession of any illegally obtained drug can lead to a criminal charge. Without a strong legal defense, a defendant may face a criminal record for drug possession, which can harm their employment, voting, housing and child custody options.