On what basis are controlled substances categorized into five schedules?

Controlled substances are categorized into five schedules primarily based on their potential for abuse, accepted medical use, and the safety or dependence risk associated with each substance. This system allows for the regulation and monitoring of drugs that have the potential for misuse or dependence while also acknowledging those that are therapeutically beneficial.

The classification considers factors such as how likely a substance is to be abused, whether there are accepted medical uses for the substance, and the potential risks involved, including the possibility of physical or psychological dependence. As a result, substances considered highly addictive with little to no accepted medical use fall into Schedule I, while those seen as having legitimate medical uses and a lower potential for abuse are classified in Schedules II through V.

Other considerations, such as the availability of the substance in pharmacies or factors like price and market demand, do not directly influence the scheduling system, which is focused primarily on medical and safety evaluations. This ensures that regulations are designed with patient safety and public health in mind.