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An Expiration Date for Temporary Control of

Fentanyl Analogues



Updated November 21, 2024

In February 2020, the Temporary Reauthorization and Study of the Emergency Scheduling of Fentanyl
Analogues Act temporarily placed certain fentanyl-related substances (FRS)-compounds chemically
related to the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl-in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).
Congress has since extended the temporary scheduling of FRS several times, and it is currently slated to
expire on December 31, 2024. In light of the approaching expiration, Congress may be interested in the
legal issues related to the scheduling of fentanyl analogues. This Legal Sidebar provides an overview of
the legal framework that applies to fentanyl and its analogues, key considerations involved in scheduling
fentanyl analogues, and options for pursuing scheduling via legislation.

The   CSA   and   Controlled Substance Regulation

The CSA  regulates drugs and other substances-whether medical or recreational, legally or illicitly
distributed-that pose a risk of abuse and dependence. Substances become subject to the CSA through
placement in one of five lists, known as Schedules I through V. Controlled substances in Schedule I are
subject to the most stringent controls, reflecting a finding that a substance has a high potential for abuse
and no currently accepted medical use. Substances in Schedules II through V have accepted medical uses
and have been deemed to pose progressively lower risks of abuse and dependence.
Fentanyl itself is in Schedule II, as it has recognized medical uses related to pain management. Some
specific substances chemically related to fentanyl are controlled in Schedule I ifthey do not have
currently accepted medical uses or Schedule II if they do. By contrast, cough medicines containing small
amounts of another opiate, codeine, are in Schedule V. (Many other prescription drugs are not controlled
substances subject to the CSA.)
A substance not specifically designated for control in Schedules I through V may still be subject to the
CSA  as a controlled substance analogue. A controlled substance analogue is a substance not otherwise
approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or scheduled under the CSAthat has (1) a
chemical structure substantially similar to that of a controlled substance in Schedule I or II or (2) an
actual or intended effect that is substantially similar to or greater than the stimulant, depressant, or
hallucinogenic effect ... of a controlled substance in schedule I or II. A substance that meets those criteria
and is intended for human consumption is treated as a controlled substance in Schedule I.
                                                                 Congressional Research Service
                                                                   https://crsreports.congress.gov
                                                                                      LSB10404

CRS Legal Sidebar
Prepared for Members and
Committees of Congress

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