Controlled Substance List and Schedules

What is considered a Controlled Substance is determined by the Alabama State Board of Health and are published in a Controlled Substances List maintained by the Alabama Department of Public Health.  It is divided up into 5 sections called Schedules.  The list is updated from the Board of Health and also the Federal Government’s Controlled Substances Schedules.

The Schedules are based upon different criteria based upon potential for abuse

Schedule I substances are those that:

• The drug or other substance has a high potential for abuse.
• The drug or other substance has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.
• There is a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision.

Schedule II substances are those that:

• The drug or other substances have a high potential for abuse.
• The drug or other substances have currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, or currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions.
• Abuse of the drug or other substances may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.

Schedule III substances are those that:

• The drug or other substance has a potential for abuse less than the drugs or other substances in schedules I and II.
• The drug or other substance has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.
• Abuse of the drug or other substance may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence.

Schedule IV substances are those that:

• The drug or other substance has a low potential for abuse relative to the drugs or other substances in schedule III.
• The drug or other substance has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.
• Abuse of the drug or other substance may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to the drugs or other substances in schedule III.

Schedule V substances are those that:

• The drug or other substance has a low potential for abuse relative to the drugs or other substances in schedule IV.
• The drug or other substance has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.
• Abuse of the drug or other substance may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to the drugs or other substances in schedule IV.