By FindLaw Staff | Legally reviewed by Joseph Bui, Esq. | Last reviewed December 23, 2022
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Recreational drug use became relatively common in the U.S. in the late 1960s, although people have been altering their consciousness with substances since the beginning of humanity.
In an effort to combat illegal drug use, Congress passed the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act in 1970. The drug laws prior to this Act weren't adequate to address, for example, the illegal use of legally manufactured drugs, such as amphetamines and barbiturates.
The Act consists of two main parts, Title II and Title III. In addition to classifying and outlawing certain drugs, the Act was also created to research drug abuse and provide treatment. Changes in drug use in the U.S. after 1970 have at times resulted in amendments to the Act. The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) is the agency of the federal government responsible for enforcing controlled substance laws, including the Act.
An important part of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act is the Title II section, the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). The CSA provides the legal basis for the government's so-called "war on drugs." This law consolidated laws on manufacturing and distributing drugs of all kinds, including narcotics, hallucinogens, steroids, and other chemicals when they're used to make controlled substances.
As part of the Controlled Substances Act, the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act created a "drug schedule," classifying drugs into five categories or schedules based on the medical use and potential for drug abuse or dependence. Those categories are:
Schedule I Drugs
Considered the most dangerous, these drugs don't have mainstream accepted medical uses and have a high potential for abuse. These drugs include heroin, LSD, marijuana, ecstasy, methaqualone, and peyote. Note that marijuana is still considered a Schedule I drug by federal law even though several states have legalized recreational marijuana (and still more have legalized medical cannabis).
Schedule II and IIN Drugs
These drugs have a high potential for abuse and are also considered dangerous. Examples of such drugs are cocaine, meth, methadone, Demerol, OxyContin, Adderall, and Ritalin.
Schedule III Drugs
These drugs have a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence. Schedule III drugs include Vicodin, Tylenol with codeine, ketamine, anabolic steroids, and testosterone.
Schedule IV Drugs
These drugs have a low potential for abuse and low risk of dependence. The schedule IV drugs include Xanax, Soma, Darvon, Darvocet, Valium, Ativan, and Ambien.
Schedule V Drugs
These drugs have the least potential for abuse and contain limited quantities of certain narcotics. These medications are usually used for antidiarrheal, antitussive, and analgesic purposes and may not require a prescription. Examples of schedule V drugs are cough syrups with limited amounts of codeine, Robitussin AC, Lomotil, Motofen, Lyrica, and Parepectolin.
The Act created a way to add and remove from control or change the schedule category of substances. A substance doesn't need to be listed as a controlled substance to be treated as one for criminal prosecution. An analogous substance intended for human use that's substantially similar to a Schedule I or Schedule II drug and isn't approved as medication in the U.S. is considered a controlled substance and can still be illegal.
The less referenced part of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act is Title III, which amended the law and penalties regarding importation and exportation of controlled substances and criminal forfeiture. Forfeiture is when the government confiscates property involved with the crime, including drug crimes. This section also provided the necessary legal information for the transitional period and when the Act was effective.
Drug charges can be extremely serious, although this varies quite a bit state by state. Understanding the consequences of a conviction for a drug charge is important when you're considering a plea deal. To learn more about your options, contact an experienced criminal defense attorney today.
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