Controlled substances are designated by the federal government under the Controlled Substance Act (CSA) which was signed into law in 1970. The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) under the US Department of Justice is designated to enforce the CSA. Substances in this act are restricted mainly due to their potential for abuse meaning they can cause serious psychological and/or physical dependencies. Narcotics were originally referred to medically as any psychoactive compound with sleep-inducing properties. Today many controlled substances are referred to as narcotics meaning a drug or other substance affecting mood or behavior and sold for non-medical and illegal purposes. These substances may include derivatives of a controlled drug or an immediate precursor. Controlled substances have been divided into 5 schedules based off their potential for abuse, accepted medical uses, safety, and potential for addiction.
• Schedule I: most regulated drugs with a high potential for abuse. They are strictly illicit and currently have no allowed medicinal use.
o Ecstasy, mescaline, LSD, psilocybin, cannabinoids, ketibemidone, moramide analgesics, morphine derivatives, phenethylamines psychedelics like 2C- drugs, tryptamines like DMT, piperazines MT-45 and BZP, GHB, most fentanyl derivatives, Quaaludes.
• Schedule II: strictly regulated drugs that have a high potential for abuse. They have accepted medicinal uses under specific circumstances but no refills are permitted. These are typically narcotics, stimulants, and depressants.
o Morphine, cocaine, oxycodone, hydrocodone, Ritalin, amphetamines, codeine, opium, methadone, Demerol, phenmetrazine, some barbitals, synthetic analgesics, PCP, methorphans, fentanyl, Adderall.
•Schedule III: stimulants, depressants, pain-killers, anabolic steroids, cough suppressants, and anesthetics. These are non-narcotic drugs and some less active schedule I and II derivatives.
o Barbituric acid, some sedatives, termine and other weight loss drugs, ketamine, and anabolic steroids like testosterone and progesterone.
• Schedule IV: low abuse potential drugs often stimulants and depressants.
o Some barbitals, sedatives, anxiolytics, anesthetics, appetite suppressants, benzodiazepines, Rohypnol.
• Schedule V: therapeutic drug mixtures containing low quantities of controlled substances.
Principal investigators using controlled substances in laboratory research are subject to federal regulations and must obtain appropriate licenses and registrations. Licenses are typically for 1-3 years and random inspections of licenses and work areas may occur. Controlled substances are to be kept under lock and key accessible only to authorized personnel (no person with a drug related offense can be authorized to use controlled substances in research). Schedule I/II drugs must be held in an approved immobile safe. Strict record keeping is required for tracking usage amounts and storage locations. Waste containing controlled substances must be treated with the same security as the substance and be disposed of appropriately through EHS.
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