What is a controlled substance?

Hazardous pharmaceuticals and prescription medications scheduled by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) are considered controlled substances.These substances are categorized into different schedules. Schedule V narcotics are the least likely to be abused, whereas Schedule I narcotics have a greater potential for causing physical or psychological dependence. No matter how these drugs are categorized, they all require specialized containment that complies with the disposal requirements of controlled substance waste streams.