What is a Controlled Substance

A controlled substance is a drug that is legally regulated by the government. This can be done in a number of ways. Some drugs are outlawed completely, and anyone in possession of these narcotics can be charged under either state or federal law. Other drugs are manufactured where they can be monitored by the government. Each drug is broken down into a ‘schedule’. This is classification system based on the drugs properties and its legal uses. Schedules determine the severity of the punishments in federal law.

Pharmaceutical companies manufacture many drugs for medical use which can be considered illegal under certain conditions. For example, the a shipment of drugs may be intended for a hospital, but someone might steal a small portion of the drugs and sell them on the street. This is called ‘diversion’ because they are changing the place where the drugs are supposed to go. If someone were to be caught selling a medical drug on the street, such as morphine, they could be charged with a drug offense. By contrast, if a doctor were to use that same drug in a hospital for a valid medical procedure, then the drug would not be considered illegal.

A controlled substance can also become illegal if it is manufactured without a license. Pharmaceutical companies must get permission from the government to manufacture drugs. The drugs are then monitored by federal agencies. If someone were caught creating these drugs without a valid license, they would be charged with a criminal offense.