c. Many drugs with high potential for abuse were placed on the market after the
Harrison Narcotic Act of 1914. Soon it became obvious that these drugs needed tighter
control because of their likelihood of abuse. The Drug Abuse Control Amendment
(DACA) was approved in 1965 as an amendment to the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
The primary purpose of the DACA was to identify and regulate the prescribing of drugs
that had a high abuse potential (for example, amphetamines and barbiturates).
1-9.
PURPOSE OF THE CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES ACT
Before 1970, many laws existed that pertained to the control of drugs. Eventually
it became necessary to combine and simplify these laws. Such a simplification became
one of the purposes of the Controlled Substances Act of 1970. In addition, the Act
transferred enforcement of all laws regulating controlled substances from the Internal
Revenue Service (IRS) and the FDA to a new agency, the Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA) which is a part of the Justice Department. The Controlled
Substances Act was Title II of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control
Act of 1970. The Controlled Substances Act divided abusable drugs into five
schedules.
1-10. THE FIVE SCHEDULES OF THE CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES ACT
The drugs specifically covered in the Controlled Substances Act are classified
into five schedules according to their abuse potential. These schedules replace the
classes of drugs mentioned in paragraph l-8b.
a. Schedule I Substances. Drugs in this schedule have no accepted medical
use in the United States. Some examples of drugs in this schedule are heroin,
marijuana, LSD, peyote, and mescaline psilocybin.
b. Schedule II Substances. Drugs in this schedule have a high abuse potential
with severe psychic or physical dependence liability. This schedule includes both
narcotic and nonnarcotic substances. Some examples of Schedule II substances are
cocaine hydrochloride, dextroamphetamine, meperidine hydrochloride, morphine,
pentobarbital, secobarbital, methylphenidate, and oxycodone hydrochloride.
NOTE:
In the Army, ethyl alcohol, and alcoholic liquors (including wine and beer),
although they are not included in any schedule of the Controlled Substances
Act, will be received, accounted for, and dispensed in the same manner as
Schedule II substances.
c. Schedule III Substances. Drugs in this schedule have an abuse potential
less than in Schedules I and II. Examples of Schedule III substances are thiopental
sodium and paregoric.
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