controlled substances and schedules

Schedule I

High potential for abuse; **NO accepted medical use in the U.S.**; cannot be prescribed

Schedule II

High potential for abuse; may cause **physical or psychological dependence**; has accepted medical uses

Schedule III

Abuse potential **less than Schedules I & II**; accepted medical use; may cause **moderate/low physical dependence or high psychological dependence**

Schedule IV

**Low abuse potential compared with Schedule III**; accepted medical use; may cause **limited physical or psychological dependence**

Schedule V

**Lowest abuse potential** among Schedules I-V; accepted medical use; may cause **limited physical or psychological dependence**

What does Schedule I mean?

High abuse potential + **no accepted medical use** + **cannot be prescribed**

What does Schedule II mean?

High abuse potential + accepted medical use + **physical/psychological dependence possible**

What happens to abuse potential from Schedule I → V?

It generally **decreases** as the schedule number increases

Which schedule has NO accepted medical use?

**Schedule I**

Which schedules have accepted medical uses?

**Schedules II, III, IV, and V**

Which schedule has the highest abuse potential?

**Schedule I**

Which schedule has the lowest abuse potential?

**Schedule V**

Which schedules can cause physical dependence?

**II, III, IV, and V** (with the degree/type of dependence varying by schedule)

Schedule I memory trick

**I = "No Medical Use"** → cannot be prescribed

Schedule II memory trick

**II = High abuse + dependence + Medical use**

Schedule III memory trick

**III = Less abuse than I/II**

Schedule IV memory trick

**IV = Low abuse**

Schedule V memory trick

**V = Very low abuse**

Order of controlled substance schedules

**I → II → III → IV → V**

Abuse potential from I → V

**High → lower → lower → low → lowest**

Medical use from I → V

**None (I) → accepted medical use (II-V)**