What does the Controlled Substance Act utilize to categorize drugs?

The Controlled Substance Act categorizes drugs primarily based on their abuse potential, medical use, and the likelihood of dependence they present. This framework establishes five schedules of drugs, where substances with a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use (like heroin) are placed in Schedule I, while substances with accepted medical uses and a lower potential for abuse (such as many prescription drugs) are classified in Schedules II through V.

Understanding these criteria is essential for regulating substances, protecting public health, and ensuring that drugs are accessible for medical purposes while mitigating the risk of addiction and abuse in the general population. The other choices do not align with the legal framework established by the Controlled Substances Act, which specifically focuses on the potential for abuse and dependence, along with the medical utility of the substance.