The Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970, commonly known as the CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE ACT (CSA) establishes the procedures that must be followed by drug manufacturers, researchers, physicians, pharmacists, and others involved in the legal manufacturing of, distributing of, prescribing of, and dispensing of controlled drugs. These procedures provide for accountability for a drug from its initial production through distribution to the patient and are intended to reduce widespread diversion of controlled drugs from legitimate medical or scientific use.

Criteria for Controlling and Scheduling Drugs

Several factors are considered before a drug is controlled under this act. These factors include the potential for abuse (i.e., history, magnitude, duration, and significance), risk to public health, and potential of physical or psychological dependence. Drugs controlled under this act are divided into five Schedules (I-V) according to...