Controlled Substances Act - Schedule II Controlled Substances

Schedule II Controlled Substances

Schedule II substances are those that have the following findings:

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

Except when dispensed directly by a practitioner, other than a pharmacist, to an ultimate user, no controlled substance in Schedule II, which is a prescription drug as determined under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 USC 301 et seq.), may be dispensed without the written prescription of a practitioner, except that in emergency situations, as prescribed by the Secretary by regulation after consultation with the Attorney General, such drug may be dispensed upon oral prescription in accordance with section 503(b) of that Act (21 USC 353 (b)). Prescriptions shall be retained in conformity with the requirements of section 827 of this title. No prescription for a controlled substance in schedule II may be refilled. Notably no emergency situation provisions exist outside the Controlled Substances Act's "closed system" although this closed system may be unavailable or nonfunctioning in the event of accidents in remote areas or disasters such as hurricanes and earthquakes. Acts which would widely be considered morally imperative remain offenses subject to heavy penalties.

These drugs vary in potency: for example fentanyl is about 80 times as potent as morphine (heroin is roughly four times as potent). More significantly, they vary in nature. Pharmacology and CSA scheduling have a weak relationship.

Schedule II substances are typically only given once a month. Federal law does not allow refills to be given. If the doctor thinks it's necessary he/she can write three separate 30-day prescriptions to the patient.

Drugs in this schedule include:

• Cocaine (used as a topical anesthetic);
• Methylphenidate (Ritalin and Concerta) and dexmethylphenidate (Focalin) (used in treatment of attention deficit disorder);
• Opium and opium tincture (laudanum), which is used as a potent antidiarrheal;
• Methadone (used in treatment of heroin addiction as well as for treatment of extreme chronic pain)
• Oxycodone (semi-synthetic opioid; active ingredient in Percocet, OxyContin, and Percodan)
• Fentanyl and most other strong pure opioid agonists, i.e. levorphanol, opium, or oxymorphone like Opana;
• Morphine
• Mixed amphetamine salts under brand name Adderall
• Lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse)
• Dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine)
• Dextromethamphetamine (Desoxyn)
• Hydromorphone (Dilaudid)
• Pure codeine and any drug for non-parenteral administration containing the equivalent of more than 90 mg of codeine per dosage unit;
• Pure hydrocodone and any drug for non-parenteral administration containing no other active ingredients or more than 15 mg per dosage unit;
• Secobarbital (Seconal)
• Pethidine (USAN: Meperidine; Demerol)
• Phencyclidine (PCP);
• Short-acting barbiturates, such as pentobarbital, Nembutal;
• Amphetamines (originally placed on Schedule III, but moved to Schedule II in 1971; injectable methamphetamine has always been on Schedule II);
• Nabilone (Cesamet) A synthetic cannabinoid. An analogue to dronabinol (Marinol) which is a Schedule III drug.
• Tapentadol (Nucynta) A drug with mixed opioid agonist and norepinepherine re-uptake inhibitor activity.