Controlled Substance Schedules

Updated: Apr 18, 2019
Author: Abimbola Farinde, PharmD, PhD;

Controlled Substance Schedules

Schedule I (CI)

  • Drugs not used medically

  • Not accepted as safe for use under medical supervision

  • High abuse potential

  • Possession and supply prohibited

  • Examples include cannabis, LSD, ecstasy, heroin, and lysergic acid[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]

Schedule II (CII)

  • Accepted medical use

  • High abuse potential

  • May lead to severe psychological or physical dependence

  • Examples include amphetamines, codeine, morphine, methamphetamines, and pentobarbital

Schedule III (CIII)

  • Accepted medical use

  • Less abuse potential than CII

  • May lead to moderate to low physical dependence or high psychological dependence

  • Examples include acetaminophen with codeine, anabolic steroids, glutethimide, methyprylon, and naloxone

Schedule IV (CIV)

  • Accepted medical use

  • Less abuse potential than CIII

  • Limited physical and psychological dependence

  • Examples include alprazolam, clonazepam, phenobarbital, and diazepam

Schedule V (CV)

  • Often available without a prescription

  • Less abuse potential than CIV

  • May be subject to state and local regulations

  • Examples include buprenorphine, Robitussin, pregabalin, and diphenoxylate