Regulation The legislation that is meant to regulate and control pharmacological agents with drug abuse liability is the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) of 1970. The intent of the legislation was to improve the regulation of manufacturing and distribution of drugs with abuse potential. Persons who manufacture, distribute, prescribe or dispense the drugs regulated by this act must register annually with the US Attorney General. Accurate records concerning the use of these drugs must be kept on file for 2 years. Drugs are classified into one of five categories according to their abuse potential, medical usefulness and their ability to cause dependence if abused.

Schedule I: Drugs with high abuse potential and have no currently accepted medical use. (e.g. heroin, marijuana, LSD, ecstasy, GHB) Schedule II: Drugs with a high abuse potential, but have an accepted medical use. Uncontrolled use of these drugs can lead to severe physical or psychological dependence (e.g. cocaine, morphine, methamphetamine, PCP) Schedule III: Drugs with some abuse liability and some therapeutic usefulness. Use may lead to low-to- moderate physical dependence or high psychological dependence. (e.g. some stimulants, and depressants and anabolic steroids) Schedule IV: Drugs with low abuse potential and considerable medicinal application. May lead to limited physical or psychological dependence. (e.g. benziodiazepines, valium) Schedule V: Drugs with limited abuse potential and common therapeutic use. Abuse potential is low: a prescription may not be required, but subject to state or local regulation. (e.g. OTC cough syrup with codeine, psuedoephedrine)