What Schedule Drug is Percocet?

What Schedule Drug is Percocet?

Drug scheduling is a result of the government’s attempt to calm national outcry about how drugs have affected the very fabrics that hold the American society. In the early 1970s, the United States began a “war on drugs” to curb the recreational use, production, and distribution of addictive substances. This birthed the Controlled Substance Act to protect Americans from potentially dangerous and addictive drugs. Scheduling substances is a way to organize and categorize different kinds of substances based on their tendency to be addictive or on their potential to harm the user. In classifying a substance, the therapeutic advantages are weighed against its potential for abuse.

The Controlled Substances Act empowers the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to classify or schedule a drug based on its medical value and potential for abuse. When classifying a substance, the DEA first considers the potential for abuse of that drug. Depending on the potential for abuse of a drug, it is scheduled. Drugs with no potential for abuse are usually left out of the scheduling. Next, the medical or therapeutic value of the drug is evaluated against the potential for abuse. The medical value of a drug ultimately determines a drug’s scheduled class. There are five schedules with schedule 1 drugs being considered the most dangerous. This is because they pose a very high risk of addiction and have no significant medical benefits. On the extreme of the scale is Schedule V drugs. These have the least potential for abuse and are medically valuable.

Drug Scheduling at a Glance

Here is a brief overview of the five schedules and some drugs that fall into the schedule:

• Schedule 1 drugs are of no recognized medical use in the United States, and using these drugs puts a person at the highest risk for developing a substance use disorder. Some familiar schedule I drugs include Ecstasy, Heroin, LSD, and Marijuana.
• Schedule 2 drugs are considered to have medical value although they have a high potential for abuse that may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence. Common examples include Cocaine, Morphine, Vicodin, Fentanyl, Dilaudid, and Oxycodone (OxyContin, Percocet).
• Schedule 3 drugs have higher medicinal value but more importantly, the potential for abuse is considerably lower (medium) than Schedule 1 or 2 drugs. Abuse of schedule 3 drugs may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence. Common examples of schedule 3 drugs are Ketamine, Vicodin, Codeine, Suboxone and anabolic steroids such as Depo-Testosterone.
• Schedule 4 drugs can also be abused or cause addiction. However, they are therapeutically valuable. Common examples include Tramadol, Xanax, carisoprodol (Soma), Klonopin, Valium, and Ativan (lorazepam).
• Schedule 5 drugs have the least potential for abuse compared to drugs in other schedules. Abuse of drugs in this class leads to mild mental or physical addiction. Common drugs include Cough suppressants containing small amounts of codeine as well as Pyrovalerone (a weight-loss drug), Lyrica and Lacosamide (which are anticonvulsants), and Cannabidiol in form of Epidiolex.

How Percocet is Scheduled in the Controlled Substances Act

Percocet is a Schedule 2 drug. The use and prescription of this drug are under strict physician supervision because of the high potential for abuse. In addition, prolonged use of Percocet could potentially lead to severe psychological or physical dependence as well as overdose and death. Other drugs in the schedule II class with Percocet include Cocaine, Morphine, Vicodin, Fentanyl, Methadone, Methamphetamine, Adderall, Ritalin, and more than 100 other drugs. Percocet is addictive because it contains Oxycodone as an active ingredient. This makes Percocet an opioid narcotic and is responsible for its ability to provide relief from pain and induce sleep.

Addiction Treatment for Controlled Substances

Drugs are scheduled because the government and healthcare professionals have recognized the effect of addiction on American citizens and socio-economic growth. Quick recognition of abuse or addiction to any scheduled drug is the first step to recovery. NJ Addiction Resources is committed to helping New Jersey residents in their fight against drug addiction. We are always available to discuss your needs for Percocet addiction treatment. Our goal is to connect you with the best New Jersey opioid rehab center for you. Is there anything you feel we should know? Call our addiction helpline today.