{"id":352185,"date":"2023-08-29T20:45:24","date_gmt":"2023-08-30T01:45:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/criminal\/criminal-charges\/what-is-a-controlled-substance.html"},"modified":"2025-05-20T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2025-05-20T05:00:00","slug":"what-is-a-controlled-substance","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-charges\/what-is-a-controlled-substance.html","title":{"rendered":"What Is a Controlled Substance?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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What Is a Controlled Substance?<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By Lyle Therese A. Hilotin-Lee, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Rhonda Earhart, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Federal and state governments regulate these substances by providing rules on public access. Law enforcement can arrest a person caught possessing a controlled substance. They may face drug possession charges and jail time or fines.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

The National Cancer Institute\u00a0defines controlled substances<\/a>\u00a0as substances the government tightly controls because of the possibility of abuse or addiction. They include opioids, stimulants, depressants, hallucinogens, and anabolic steroids. The government controls how the substance is:<\/p>\n