Information on the Controlled Substances Act (CSA)

Hydrocodone is a narcotic antitussive and is placed in the Schedule III and Schedule II act. Pure hydrocodone (not available in the United States) is schedule II while preparations containing other non-narcotic drugs are schedule III (Vicodin, Lortab, Lorcet, Norco, Vicoprofin, Hycomine). The reason why they are schedule III is because users cannot successfully inject a medication like vicodin due to the fact that it contains acetaminophen. Schedule III means that the drug has accepted medical use and has a lower potential for abuse than Schedule II drugs (oxycodone, morphine, amphetamines (including methamphetamine but not methylenedioxymethamphetamine (schedule I), hydromorphone, oxymorphone, methadone, fentanyl, cocaine, and phencyclidine (PCP). Most schedule II drugs are narcotics (drugs that relieve pain). Schedule III drugs include the hydrocodone (less than or equal to 15 mg/unit) with combination product, dronabinol, anabolic steroids, codeine combination product (less than or equal to 90 mg/unit) By the way, schedule I means that the drug has no accepted medical value and has a very high potential for abuse. Drugs that are schedule I include tetrahydrocannabinols, methylenedioxymethamphetamine, Gamma Hydroxybutyrate (GHB), lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), psilocybin, diacetylmorphine (heroin), mescaline/peyote, and other hallucinogens (with the exception of dronabinol (synthetic THC which is schedule III). While i'm talking about the Controlled Substances Act, Schedule IV drugs are drugs that have accepted medical use and are have a lower potential for abuse than Schedule III drugs. The drugs include benzodiazepines (alprazolam - xanax, diazepam - valium, nordiazepam - ativan, temazepam - restoril), dextropropoxyphene (darvon, darvocet) in dosage forms, phentermine, modafinil (provogil), and zolpidem (ambien). Lastly Schedule V drugs are mostly preparations with the exception of pyrovalerone.