Which statement best describes Schedule 5 drugs?

• A. They require a prescription for all uses.
• B. They are the same as Schedule I drugs in terms of abuse potential.
• C. They have a low potential for abuse relative to other schedules and currently have no accepted medical use in the USA.
• D. They are illegal and have no medical use.

Answer: (C)

Schedule 5 substances have the lowest potential for abuse among the controlled substances and they do have an accepted medical use in the United States. That combination — low abuse potential relative to other schedules and a recognized medical purpose — is what sets Schedule 5 apart from the others. In practice, these drugs are usually dispensed by prescription, though some states allow limited nonprescription access for very small amounts of certain products, reflecting their careful balance between safety and legitimate medical use.

This helps explain why the statement that best fits Schedule 5 emphasizes their relatively low abuse risk and their medical acceptability, rather than implying they have no medical use.