How are controlled substances classified?

Controlled substances are classified by their schedules, which are determined based on two primary factors: the potential for abuse and the accepted medical use in treatment. This classification system, established by the Controlled Substances Act, organizes drugs into five schedules (I through V). Schedule I substances have a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use, while Schedule II substances have a high potential for abuse but also have accepted medical uses. As the schedules progress to V, the potential for abuse diminishes and acceptance for medical use increases.

This classification approach reflects the importance of balancing access to medical treatments with the need to control substances that pose a higher risk of abuse and dependence. Other options, while they may reflect certain aspects of how substances are understood in the medical and scientific communities, do not capture the legal framework governing controlled substances as comprehensively as the scheduling system does.