Drug charges are not only an Oregon crime. Federal law also addressed the illegal use, possession and distribution of certain substances. Under federal law, substances are classified into different schedules. Depending on the schedule that a particular drug has been placed in, the severity of the charges can vary.
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration(DEA), there are five schedules that a drug can be placed into. The first schedule is Schedule I. These are the most dangerous drugs and those without an accepted medical use. They include heroin, marijuana, ecstasy and others. These drugs are considered highly addictive.
After Schedule I, there is Schedule II. These are still dangerous drugs, according to the DEA, but are not as addictive as the Schedule I drugs. Therefore, there is less risk of dependence seen in these drugs. These drugs include methadone, cocaine, Ritalin, Adderall and Vicodin.
Next are the Schedule III drugs, including anabolic steroids and testosterone. These have even fewer risks of dependence, with only a low to moderate risk. Schedule IV drugs have an even lower risk. These drugs -- Valium, Ambien, Xanax and others -- have a low risk of abuse. Finally, there are the Schedule V drugs. These are the least dangerous drugs and have the lowest potential for abuse.
Understanding where a particular drug falls on this scale can be important since the schedule can affect the severity of the drug charges and the potential penalties. An attorney can help people understand the severity of federal drug charges, no matter what schedule. In any case, federal drug charges can lead to serious life-changing penalties.
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