What term describes the system established by the 1970 act to categorize controlled substances by potential for abuse?

• A. Scheduling
• B. Classes
• C. Tiers
• D. Levels

Answer: (A)

Scheduling is the system established by the 1970 act to categorize controlled substances by potential for abuse, medical use, and safety. This framework, created by the Controlled Substances Act, places drugs into five schedules, with higher schedules indicating greater abuse potential and stricter controls. For example, substances in the highest schedule are considered to have little to no accepted medical use and face the strictest regulations, while those in the lower schedules have accepted medical uses and progressively fewer controls. This classification helps determine regulation, permissible medical use, and penalties. The other terms—the idea of “classes,” “tiers,” or “levels”—are not the formal regulatory term used for this framework.