Tag: Schedule iv drug

According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), most benzodiazepines are regulated as Schedule IV controlled substances, not Class 1. This clarification is crucial, as the question, **is benzodiazepine a class 1 drug?**, arises from a misunderstanding of how the federal government classifies controlled substances based on their potential for abuse and accepted medical use. These medications, while serving valid medical purposes, still possess a risk of dependence and misuse that warrants specific regulatory controls.

In the United States, approximately 30.6 million adults report using benzodiazepines like diazepam [1.5.1]. The crucial question for patients and caregivers is, **is diazepam a classified drug?** Yes, it is federally regulated due to its potential for dependence and abuse [1.2.3].

Despite its reputation as a powerful cognitive enhancer, a 2013 study in *JAMA Internal Medicine* found that 89% of modafinil users were prescribed it for off-label reasons. This raises a critical question: why is modafinil not prescribed more widely for these purposes?