Not all drugs are considered equal in the eyes of the law, both in Texas and at the federal level. The federal government classifies drugs into five “schedules” depending on their acceptable use, risk for abuse and risk of dependency. The following is an overview of these schedules.
Schedule I drugs
Schedule I drugs are those that have no currently acceptable medical use and that have a high potential for abuse. Heroin, LSD and ecstasy are three examples of Schedule I drugs.
Schedule II drugs
Schedule II drugs are those that have a high potential for abuse and that have the potential to cause severe psychological or physical dependency. Vicodin, OxyContin and fentanyl are three examples of Schedule II drugs.
Schedule III drugs
Schedule III drugs are those that have a moderate to low risk of causing physical or psychological dependency. Schedule II drugs have a potential for abuse that is greater than Schedule IV drugs but less than Schedule I and Schedule II drugs. Ketamine, anabolic steroids and Tylenol with codeine are three examples of Schedule III drugs.
Schedule IV drugs
Schedule IV drugs are those with a low potential for abuse and a low risk of physical or psychological dependency. Xanax, Valium and Tramadol are three examples of Schedule IV drugs.
Schedule V drugs
Schedule V drugs are those that have a lower risk for abuse than Schedule IV drugs, and that have limited amounts of certain narcotics. Robitussin AC and Lyrica are two examples of Schedule V drugs.
Learn more about drug crimes in Texas
Schedule I drug crimes will be treated more severely than Schedule V drugs, but ultimately any federal drug crime should be taken seriously. If you want more information about drug crimes in Texas, please visit our website.
