Which schedule of drugs has the highest potential for abuse according to the Controlled Substances Act?

Schedule I drugs have the highest potential for abuse as classified by the Controlled Substances Act. This schedule includes substances that are considered to have no accepted medical use in the United States, which contributes to their high risk for addiction and abuse. These drugs are strictly regulated, and their use is limited to research settings under tight controls and compliance with regulations.

Examples of Schedule I substances include heroin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), and other hallucinogens. Because of the significant risks associated with their use and the absence of accepted medical applications, these substances are subject to the most stringent legal restrictions compared to drugs in lower schedules.

Other scheduling categories, like Schedule II through IV, do not have the same level of restriction and have accepted medical uses, even though they may still carry risks of dependency and abuse.