Drugs Act Controlled Substance United People States Made

In 1970, the United States "Congress" (law-making part of the government) and then-President Richard Nixon "enacted" (made into law) the Controlled Substance "Act" (law). Today, the Act "underlies" (forms the basis of) the country's "drug policy" (how a country deals with medicines and illegal drugs). Specifically, it "regulates" (creates rules about and controls) how medicines and other drugs are "manufactured" (made for sale), "imported" (purchased and brought from other countries), "stored" (kept in a safe place until being used), "distributed" (given to people to use), and used.

The Act established five categories of "controlled substances" (things that must be closely regulated and controlled). These categories are based on how "addictive" (making people want to have more and more of something) the substances are, their "potential for" (likelihood of) "abuse" (misuse; use that causes harm or death), and what kind of medical treatments they are used for, among other things. Interestingly, the Controlled Substance Act does not directly deal with alcohol or "tobacco" (the substance smoked in cigarettes), even though those are the two most common drugs in the United States.

Two big parts of the U.S. government - The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) - are responsible for determining which drugs should be listed in each category. In addition, the DEA is responsible for "enforcing the law" (making sure people follow the law).

The Controlled Substances Act is important for international "treaties" (agreements between countries). For example, if the United Nations' Commission on Narcotic Drugs changes how it classifies a particular drug, it might need to be moved from one U.S. category to another in order to keep the United States in "compliance" (following the rules) with its treaty "obligations" (what someone is required to do).