Controlled substances are those that can cause addiction, overdose and other harmful effects. However, some can also be beneficial when used in a particular manner. The federal government arranges controlled substances into five schedules based on their abuse potential versus their medicinal benefits. Each drug schedule has restrictions placed on possession and dispensation of the substances it contains. Schedule V substances have the least restrictions, but you still cannot obtain them without a prescription.
Schedule I substances have the greatest restrictions. According to the Drug Enforcement Agency, it is illegal for your doctor to prescribe you these medications or for you to possess them because they have no accepted medical use in the United States. The following are not all the Schedule I drugs but are among the most common.
- LSD
Also known as acid, LSD is a potent hallucinogen. It severely alters perception and impairs judgment. The effects last for hours at a time, and flashbacks can persist even after other effects have worn off.
- GHB
GHB is a depressant, meaning that it works to slow down the central nervous system. An overdose can cause you to stop breathing altogether. People sometimes take GHB for its relaxation effects, but it is also common to administer it to others to impede inhibition and facilitate sexual assault.
- Heroin
Heroin is a narcotic drug. It induces feelings of drowsiness after an initial rush of euphoria as it rapidly enters the brain. If you take heroin over time, you can eventually develop a tolerance for it, meaning that you have to take larger and larger doses to achieve the same effects. This puts you at a greater risk of overdose.