3-30. FIVE SCHEDULES OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES
a. General. The law that presently governs drug control and legal enforcement
of drug laws in the United States is The Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and
Control Act of 1970. This act establishes five schedules of controlled substances,
designated as Schedule I, II, III, IV, or V, depending largely on the drug's potential for
abuse, medical usefulness, and degree of physical or psychological dependence. The
appendix provides a listing of drugs commonly used in dentistry and describes some
controlled substances that are not listed below as examples.
b. Schedule I. Schedule I substances have no accepted medical use in the
United States, but have a high potential for abuse. Examples of Schedule I substances
are heroin, marijuana, and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD).
c. Schedule II. Schedule II substances have an accepted medical use and
have a high potential for abuse. Examples of Schedule II substances are morphine,
codeine, and Percodan (trade name). Schedule II substances are classified as Code
R substances in the Federal supply system.
d. Schedule III. Schedule III substances have a lower potential for abuse than
those listed in Schedules I and II. However, Schedule III substances may lead to
moderate to low physical dependence. Examples of these substances are aspirin or
acetaminophen compounds containing codeine (Tylenol #3 and Empirin with codeine).
Schedule III substances are classified as Code Q substances in the Federal supply
system.
e. Schedules IV and V. Schedule IV and V substances have decreasing
potentials for dependence and abuse than those in previous schedules. Schedule IV
substances include sedative-hypnotics such as chloral hydrate and phenobarbital and
tranquilizers such as diazepam (Valium). Schedule V substances include cough
syrups. Both Schedule IV and V substances are classified as Code K substances in the
Federal supply system.
3-31. PRESCRIPTION WRITING
a. General. A prescription is a written order from an authorized individual to a
pharmacist directing him to furnish a certain drug to a patient. (See figure 3-2.) The
prescription ensures proper control of substances since most substances are
unobtainable without a prescription. Prescription writing should follow certain basic
rules to ensure accuracy, simplicity, and accountability.
b. Properly Prepared DD Form 1289. A prescription should be stamped,
typed, or written legibly in ink without erasures on a properly prepared DD Form 1289
(DOD Prescription).
MD0509
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