What are the various categories of controlled substances described by federal law? What is a dangerous drug?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Controlled substances are grouped into five schedules under the 1970 Controlled Substances Act:

• Schedule I includes drugs with a high potential for abuse that have no currently accepted medical use in the United States, and for which there is a lack of accepted safety standards for use under medical supervision. Drugs in this schedule include marijuana, heroin, opiods, hallucinogenic substances, peyote, mescaline, gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB), and others.
• Schedule II includes drugs with a high potential for abuse that are currently accepted for medical use in the United States but for which use may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence. Drugs in this schedule include cocaine, opium, oxycodone, methadone, morphine, Seconal, methamphetamine, and other amphetamines.
• Schedule III includes drugs with less potential for abuse than those in Schedules I and II that are currently accepted for medical use in the United States and for which use may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence. Drugs in this schedule include anabolic steroids, ketamine, hydrocodone, and a number of barbiturates and sedatives.
• Schedule IV includes drugs with less potential for abuse than those in Schedule III that are currently accepted for medical use and for which use may lead to limited physical or psychological dependence relative to the substances in Schedule III. Drugs in this schedule include some antidiarrheal drugs; some partial opioid analgesics; some sleeping pills such as Zolpidem; long-acting barbiturates; and benzodiazepines such as Xanax, Librium, and Valium.
• Schedule V includes drugs with a low potential for abuse relative to those in Schedule IV that are currently accepted for medical use and for which use may lead to limited physical or psychological dependence relative to the substances in Schedule IV. Drugs in this schedule include some cough suppressants, anticonvulsants, and selected prescription pain pills.

Controlled substances are generally grouped into seven categories: stimulants, depressants, cannabis, narcotics, hallucinogens, anabolic steroids, and inhalants.

The DEA uses the term dangerous drugs to refer to "broad categories or classes of controlled substances other than cocaine, opiates, and cannabis products." Federal law also allows for the control of these drugs.