Factors Determining Legality of Drugs; CNS stimulants have both legal and illegal uses. What should the factors be in deciding whether a drug should be available legally?
Since its creation in 1970, the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) has been used by law enforcement to decrease drug abuse and dependence among Americans by regulating the production, sale, purchase and use of many drugs. This act gives authority to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to monitor and control the use of substances, both legal and illegal. Factors Determining Legality of Drugs
Because of the many differences between the various types of substances, and between each individual substance, the CSA puts each substance into one of five categories, called Schedules. These categories give each substance a simple classification that helps both law enforcement and the medical community to easily understand its nature. Drug Schedules
The CSA states that the following factors affect a drug’s schedule:
- Potential for abuse
- Scientific information available regarding the drug’s pharmacological effect
- Scientific understanding of the drug
- Historical and current patterns of abuse
- Magnitude of abuse
- Possible risks to public health
- Risk of developing psychological or physical dependence
- The CSA states that the following factors affect a drug’s schedule:
- Potential for abuse
- Scientific information available regarding the drug’s pharmacological effect
- Scientific understanding of the drug
- Historical and current patterns of abuse
- Magnitude of abuse
- Possible risks to public health
- Risk of developing psychological or physical dependence