Category: Drug policy

While many people inquire about *what are the 7 categories of controlled substances*, the U.S. federal government, through the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), officially classifies these substances into five distinct schedules, not seven. The misconception likely stems from other classification systems, such as the seven pharmacological categories used in specific law enforcement training.

As of the end of 2024, the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) was monitoring 1,000 new psychoactive substances (NPS), with 47 of them being reported for the first time in Europe during that year [1.3.1]. So, what are the new psychoactive substances in Europe causing concern?

In the late 19th century, cocaine was a common ingredient in patent medicines, beverages like Coca-Cola, and other products sold without regulation, illustrating a stark contrast to its current illegal status. The history of this substance serves as a potent example for the question: what is an example of a drug that was once legal in the United States but now is not?.

In the United States, over 7 million people suffer from an illicit drug disorder. This article explores what is an illegal drug by examining how legality is determined and the serious consequences involved.

DMT became a Schedule I controlled substance in the United States in 1971 as part of the Controlled Substances Act. This decision is a primary reason **why is DMT illegal**, despite its long history of traditional use and growing modern research interest.