Drugs controlled by the United Kingdom (UK) Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 are listed in this article.
These drugs are known in the UK as controlled drugs, because this is the term by which the act itself refers to them. In more general terms, however, many of these drugs are also controlled by the Medicines Act 1968, there are many other drugs which are controlled by the Medicines Act but not by the Misuse of Drugs Act, and other substances which may be considered drugs (alcohol, for example) are controlled by other laws.
The Misuse of Drugs Act sets out three separate categories, Class A, Class B, and Class C. Class A drugs represent those deemed most dangerous, and so carry the harshest punishments. Class C represents those thought to have the least capacity for harm, and so the Act demands more lenient punishment. Being found in possession of a drug on this list is dealt with less seriously than would be if it were deemed that there is intent to supply (even without payment) the drug to others. Possession with intent to supply carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
With regard to lawful possession and supply, a different set of categories apply which are set out in the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 (as amended). This sets out five schedules each with their own restrictions. Schedule 1 contains substances with no medicinal value such as hallucinogens and their use is limited primarily to research, whereas schedules 2-5 contain the other regulated drugs. This means that although drugs may fall into the category of Class A/B/C, they may also fall into one of the schedules for legitimate medicinal use. For example, morphine is a Class A drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, but when lawfully supplied falls under the category of a Schedule 2 controlled drug.
Substances may be removed and added to different parts of the schedule by statutory instrument, provided a report of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs has been commissioned and has reached a conclusion, although the Secretary of State is not bound by the council's findings. This list has in practice modified a great number of times, sometimes removing substances, but more commonly adding some; for example, many benzodiazepines became Class C drugs in 1985.
Glossary of terminology used in this list
anabolic steroids — hormones that build muscle tissue |
Contents |
1. The following substances, namely:—[1]
(a)
Name as specified in the Act |
Brand or street name |
Drug type | When added |
Notes and comments |
---|---|---|---|---|
Acetorphine | opioid | 1971 | primarily used to sedate elephants, giraffes and rhinos | |
Alfentanil | opioid | 1984 | ||
Allylprodine | opioid | 1971 | ||
Alphacetylmethadol | opioid | 1971 | synthetic | |
Alphameprodine | opioid | 1971 | ||
Alphamethadol | opioid | 1971 | ||
Alphaprodine | opioid | 1971 | ||
Anileridine | opioid | 1971 | ||
Benzethidine | opioid | 1971 | ||
Benzylmorphine | opioid | 1971 | ||
Betacetylmethadol | opioid | 1971 | ||
Betameprodine | opioid | 1971 | ||
Betamethadol | opioid | 1971 | ||
Betaprodine | opioid | 1971 | ||
Bezitramide | opioid | 1971 | ||
Bufotenine | Toad | tryptamine | 1971 | found in the psychoactive toads |
Carfentanil | opioid | 1986 | Used as a tranquilizer for large game (elephants etc.) | |
Clonitazene | opioid | 1971 | ||
Coca leaf | Erythroxylum | 1971 | the plant from which cocaine is derived | |
Cocaine | coke | stimulant | 1971 | one of the most widely used illicit drugs in the world |
Desomorphine | opioid | 1971 | ||
Dextromoramide | opioid | 1971 | ||
Diampromide | opioid | 1971 | ||
Diethylthiambutene | opioid | 1971 | ||
Difenoxin | opioid | 1975 | ||
Dihydrocodeinone O-carboxymethyloxime | opioid | 1971 | ||
Dihydroetorphine | opioid (see notes) | 2003 | Semi-synthetic opioid; derivative of etorphine [2] | |
Dihydromorphine | Paramorphan | opioid | 1971 | |
Dimenoxadole | opioid | 1971 | ||
Dimepheptanol | opioid | 1971 | an analogue of methadone | |
Dimethylthiambutene | opioid | 1971 | ||
Dioxaphetyl butyrate | opioid | 1971 | ||
Diphenoxylate | opioid | 1971 | ||
Dipipanone | opioid | 1971 | ||
Drotebanol | opioid | 1973 | ||
Ecgonine | precursor | 1971 | "and any derivative of ecgonine which is convertible to ecgonine or to cocaine" | |
Ethylmethylthiambutene | opioid | 1971 | ||
Eticyclidine | hallucinogen | 1984 | ||
Etonitazene | opioid | 1971 | ||
Etorphine | opioid | 1971 | ||
Etoxeridine | opioid | 1971 | ||
Etryptamine | tryptamine | 1998 | [3] | |
Fentanyl | opioid | 1971 | Approximately 100 times the strength of morphine | |
Furethidine | opioid | 1971 | ||
Hydrocodone | Vicodin | opioid | 1971 | |
Hydromorphinol | opioid | 1971 | ||
Hydromorphone | Dilaudid, Palladone, Hymorphan | opioid | 1971 | |
Hydroxypethidine | opioid | 1971 | ||
Isomethadone | opioid | 1971 | Simple positional isomer of Methadone | |
Ketobemidone | opioid | 1971 | ||
Levomethorphan | opioid | 1971 | ||
Levomoramide | opioid | 1971 | the totally inactive isomer of dextromoramide | |
Levophenacylmorphan | opioid | 1971 | ||
Levorphanol | opioid | 1971 | ||
Lofentanil | opioid | 1986 | ||
Lysergamide | ergoline | 1971 | a precursor to LSD | |
Lysergic acid diethylamide | LSD, acid | ergoline | 1971 | "Lysergide and other N-alkyl derivatives of lysergamide" |
Mescaline | mescaline | phenethylamine | 1971 | found naturally in the peyote cactus |
Metazocine | opioid | 1971 | ||
Methadone | methadone | opioid | 1971 | |
Methadyl acetate | opioid | 1971 | used in treating opioid addiction, structurally related to methadone | |
Methamphetamine | meth, speed | stimulant | 2006 | moved from class B to class A in 2006[4] |
Methyldesorphine | opioid | 1971 | ||
Methyldihydromorphine | opioid | 1971 | ||
MDMA | ecstasy | phenethylamine | 1977 | |
Metopon | opioid | 1971 | ||
Morpheridine | opioid | 1971 | ||
Morphine | opioid | 1971 | derivative of the opium poppy and powerful painkiller | |
Morphine diacetate | heroin | opioid | 1971 | derivative of the opium poppy |
Morphine methobromide | opioid | 1971 | "morphine N-oxide and other pentavalent nitrogen morphine derivatives" | |
Myrophine | opioid | 1971 | ||
Nicomorphine | opioid | 1971 | ||
Noracymethadol | opioid | 1971 | ||
Norlevorphanol | opioid | 1971 | ||
Normethadone | opioid | 1971 | ||
Normorphine | opioid | 1971 | ||
Norpipanone | Hexalgon | methadol | 1971 | |
Opium | opium | opioid mixture | 1971 | milky secretion of the opium poppy - banned "whether raw, prepared or medicinal" |
Oxycodone | OxyContin | opioid | 1971 | Widely used strong pain killer |
Oxymorphone | Numorphan, Opana | opioid | 1971 | |
Pethidine | Demerol | opioid | 1971 | |
Phenadoxone | opioid | 1971 | ||
Phenampromide | opioid | 1971 | ||
Phenazocine | opioid | 1971 | ||
Phencyclidine | angel dust, PCP | dissociative | 1979 | |
Phenomorphan | opioid | 1971 | ||
Phenoperidine | opioid | 1971 | ||
Piminodine | opioid | 1971 | ||
Piritramide | opioid | 1971 | ||
Poppy-straw | Papaver somniferum | 1971 | "Poppy-straw and concentrate of poppy-straw." | |
Proheptazine | opioid | 1971 | ||
Properidine | opioid | 1971 | ||
Psilocin | tryptamine | 1971 | found in most psychedelic mushrooms | |
Psilocybe mushrooms | magic mushrooms | fungi | 2005 | "Fungus (of any kind) which contains psilocin or an ester of psilocin."[5] |
Racemethorphan | opioid mixture | 1971 | Racemic mixture of Dextromethorphan (DXM) and Levomethorphan | |
Racemoramide | opioid mixture | 1971 | ||
Racemorphan | opioid mixture | 1971 | ||
Remifentanil | 2003 | [2] Strong painkiller; cannot be used without plasma infusion equipment | ||
Rolicyclidine | PCPy | hallucinogen | 1984 | Very similar to phencyclidine (PCP) |
Sufentanil | opioid | 1983 | ||
Tenocyclidine | TCP | hallucinogen | 1984 | Very similar to phencyclidine (PCP), but considerably more potent |
Thebacon | opioid | 1971 | ||
Thebaine | opioid | 1971 | ||
Tilidate | opioid | 1983 | ||
Trimeperidine | opioid | 1971 | ||
2,5-Dimethoxy-4-bromoamphetamine | DOB | phenethylamine | 1975 | a drug of the DOx family. |
4-Cyano-2-dimethylamino-4,4-diphenylbutane | opioid (see note) | 1971 | Methadone intermediate | |
4-Cyano-1-methyl-4-phenyl-piperidine | opioid (see note) | 1971 | Intermediate chemical in generation of the opioid, Pethidine | |
N,N-Diethyltryptamine | DET, T-9 | tryptamine | 1971 | |
N,N-Dimethyltryptamine | DMT | tryptamine | 1971 | Intense psychedelic drug |
2,5-Dimethoxy-4-methylamphetamine | DOM | phenethylamine | 1971 | a drug of the DOx family. |
N-Hydroxy-tenamphetamine | stimulant | 1990 | ||
1-Methyl-4-phenylpiperidine-4-carboxylic acid | Pethidinic acid | precursor | 1971 | |
2-Methyl-3-morpholino-1 | opioid (see notes) | 1971 | Converted in the body into the opioid Moramide | |
1-diphenylpropanecarboxylic acid | opioid (see notes) | 1971 | Converted in the body into the opioid Moramide | |
4-Methyl-aminorex | ice | stimulant | 1990 | |
4-Phenylpiperidine-4-carboxylic acid ethyl ester | Norpethidine | opioid (see notes) | 1971 | Commonly used in the production of Pethidine, although it has little opioid activity in its own right |
(b) any compound (not being a compound for the time being specified in sub-paragraph (a) above) structurally derived from tryptamine or from a ring-hydroxy tryptamine by substitution at the nitrogen atom of the sidechain with one or more alkyl substituents but no other substituent;
(ba) the following phenethylamine derivatives, namely:—
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(c) any compound (not being methoxyphenamine or a compound for the time being specified in sub-paragraph (a) above) structurally derived from phenethylamine an N-alkylphenethylamine, a methylphenethylamine, an N-alkyl-a-methylphenethylamine, a ethylphenethylamine, or an N-alkyl-a-ethylphenethylamine by substitution in the ring to any extent with alkyl, alkoxy, alkylenedioxy or halide substituents, whether or not further substituted in the ring by one or more other univalent substituents.
(d) any compound (not being a compound for the time being specified in sub-paragraph (a) above) structurally derived from fentanyl by modification in any of the following ways, that is to say,
(e) any compound (not being a compound for the time being specified in sub-paragraph (a) above) structurally derived from pethidine by modification in any of the following ways, that is to say,
2. Any stereoisomeric form of a substance for the time being specified in paragraph 1 above not being dextromethorphan or dextrorphan.
3. Any ester or ether of a substance for the time being specified in paragraph 1 or 2 above [not being a substance for the time being specified in Part II of this Schedule].
4. Any salt of a substance for the time being specified in any of paragraphs 1 to 3 above.
5. Any preparation or other product containing a substance or product for the time being specified in any of paragraphs 1 to 4 above.
6. Any preparation designed for administration by injection which includes a substance or product for the time being specified in any of paragraphs 1 to 3 of Part II of this Schedule.
1. The following substances, namely:—[1]
(a)
Name as specified in the Act |
Brand or street name |
Drug type |
When added |
Notes and comments |
---|---|---|---|---|
Acetyldihydrocodeine | opioid | 1971 | ||
Amphetamine | speed | stimulant | 1971 | |
Codeine | opioid | 1971 | legal without prescription in quantities of up to 12.5 mg when in tablet form | |
Cannabinol and derivatives | cannabinoid | 2009 | downgraded from class A to class C in 2004[7] and upgraded to class B in 2009[8] | |
Cannabis | weed, marijuana, green, hash, skunk | Cannabis sativa | 2009 | All cannabis varieties, including those grown as hemp, are controlled under the act, not just drug varieties Downgraded from class B to class C in 2004[7] and upgraded to class B in 2009[8] |
Dihydrocodeine | opioid | 1971 | legal in amounts up to 7.46 mg when in tablet form and compounded with an adjunct non-opioid such as paracetamol. | |
Ethylmorphine | opioid | 1971 | ||
Glutethimide | sedative | 1985 | ||
Lefetamine | stimulant | 1985 | ||
Mecloqualone | sedative | 1984 | ||
a-Methylphenethylhydroxylamine | 2001 | [6] | ||
Methaqualone | ludes, mandrake, Mandrax, Quaalude | sedative | 1984 | |
Methcathinone | MCAT | stimulant | 1998 | [3] |
Mephedrone | MMCAT | stimulant | 2010 | [9] |
Methylphenidate | ritalin | stimulant | 1971 | |
Methylphenobarbitone | sedative | 1984 | ||
Naphyrone | NRG-1 | stimulant | 2010 | |
Nicocodeine | opioid | 1971 | ||
Nicodicodine | opioid | 1973 | ||
Norcodeine | opioid | 1971 | ||
Pentazocine | opioid | 1985 | ||
Phenmetrazine | stimulant | 1971 | ||
Pholcodine | opioid | 1971 | ||
Propiram | opioid | 1973 | ||
Zipeprol | opioid | 1998 | [3] |
(b) any 5,5 disubstituted barbituric acid
(c) [2,3–Dihydro–5–methyl–3–(4–morpholinylmethyl)pyrrolo[1, 2, 3–de]–1,4–benzoxazin–6–yl]–1–naphthalenylmethanone.
3–Dimethylheptyl–11–hydroxyhexahydrocannabinol.
[9–Hydroxy–6–methyl–3–[5–phenylpentan–2–yl] oxy–5, 6, 6a, 7, 8, 9, 10, 10a–octahydrophenanthridin–1–yl] acetate.
9-(Hydroxymethyl)–6, 6–dimethyl–3–(2–methyloctan–2–yl)–6a, 7, 10, 10a–tetrahydrobenzo[c]chromen–1–ol.
Nabilone.
Any compound structurally derived from 3–(1–naphthoyl)indole or 1H–indol–3–yl–(1–naphthyl)methane by substitution at the nitrogen atom of the indole ring by alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkylmethyl, cycloalkylethyl or 2–(4–morpholinyl)ethyl, whether or not further substituted in the indole ring to any extent and whether or not substituted in the naphthyl ring to any extent.
Any compound structurally derived from 3–(1–naphthoyl)pyrrole by substitution at the nitrogen atom of the pyrrole ring by alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkylmethyl, cycloalkylethyl or 2–(4–morpholinyl)ethyl, whether or not further substituted in the pyrrole ring to any extent and whether or not substituted in the naphthyl ring to any extent.
Any compound structurally derived from 1–(1–naphthylmethyl)indene by substitution at the 3–position of the indene ring by alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkylmethyl, cycloalkylethyl or 2–(4–morpholinyl)ethyl, whether or not further substituted in the indene ring to any extent and whether or not substituted in the naphthyl ring to any extent.
Any compound structurally derived from 3–phenylacetylindole by substitution at the nitrogen atom of the indole ring with alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkylmethyl, cycloalkylethyl or 2–(4–morpholinyl)ethyl, whether or not further substituted in the indole ring to any extent and whether or not substituted in the phenyl ring to any extent.
Any compound structurally derived from 2–(3–hydroxycyclohexyl)phenol by substitution at the 5–position of the phenolic ring by alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkylmethyl, cycloalkylethyl or 2–(4–morpholinyl)ethyl, whether or not further substituted in the cyclohexyl ring to any extent.”;
2. Any stereoisomeric form of a substance for the time being specified in paragraph 1 of this Part of this Schedule.
3. Any salt of a substance for the time being specified in paragraph 1 or 2 of this Part of this Schedule.
4. Any preparation or other product containing a substance or product for the time being specified in any of paragraphs 1 to 3 of this Part of this Schedule, not being a preparation falling within paragraph 6 of Part I of this Schedule.
1. The following substances, namely:—[1]
(a)
Name as specified in the Act |
Brand or street name |
Drug type | When added |
Notes and comments |
---|---|---|---|---|
Alprazolam | Xanax | benzodiazepine | 1996 | |
Aminorex | stimulant | 1998 | [3] | |
Benzphetamine | stimulant | 1971 | metabolized into amphetamine and methamphetamine | |
Bromazepam | benzodiazepine | 1996 | ||
Brotizolam | benzodiazepine | 1998 | [3] | |
Buprenorphine | Subutex, Buprenex | opioid | 1989 | |
Camazepam | benzodiazepine | 1985 | ||
Cathine | stimulant | 1986 | Khat (Catha edulis), the plant from which Cathine originates is legal in The United Kingdom[10][11] | |
Cathinone | stimulant | 1986 | Khat (Catha edulis), the plant from which Cathinone originates is legal in The United Kingdom[10][11] | |
Chlordiazepoxide | Librium | benzodiazepine | 1985 | |
Chlorphentermine | stimulant | 1971 | ||
Clobazam | benzodiazepine | 1985 | ||
Clorazepic acid | benzodiazepine | 1985 | ||
Clonazepam | Klonopin | benzodiazepine | 1985 | |
Clotiazepam | benzodiazepine | 1985 | ||
Cloxazolam | benzodiazepine | 1985 | ||
Delorazepam | benzodiazepine | 1985 | ||
Dextropropoxyphene | opioid | 1983 | ||
Diazepam | valium | benzodiazepine | 1985 | |
Diethylpropion | stimulant | 1984 | ||
Estazolam | benzodiazepine | 1985 | ||
Ethchlorvynol | sedative | 1985 | ||
Ethinamate | sedative | 1985 | ||
Ethyl loflazepate | benzodiazepine | 1985 | ||
Fencamfamine | stimulant | 1971 | Removed from the schedule in 1973, added to the schedule again in 1986 | |
Fenethylline | stimulant | 1986 | ||
Fenproporex | stimulant | 1986 | ||
Fludiazepam | benzodiazepine | 1985 | ||
Flunitrazepam | rohypnol | benzodiazepine | 1985 | |
Flurazepam | benzodiazepine | 1985 | ||
gamma-Butyrolactone | GBL | sedative | 2009 | Metabolised to GHB in the body. Classified in Dec 2009[12] |
Halazepam | benzodiazepine | 1985 | ||
Haloxazolam | benzodiazepine | 1985 | ||
4-Hydroxy-n-butyric acid | GHB | sedative | 2003 | [2] |
Ketamine | ket | sedative | 2006 | [13] |
Ketazolam | benzodiazepine | 1985 | ||
Loprazolam | benzodiazepine | 1985 | ||
Lorazepam | Ativan | benzodiazepine | 1985 | |
Lormetazepam | benzodiazepine | 1985 | ||
Mazindol | stimulant | 1985 | ||
Medazepam | benzodiazepine | 1985 | ||
Mefenorex | stimulant | 1986 | amphetamine derivative, metabolises to amphetamine | |
Mephentermine | stimulant | 1971 | ||
Meprobamate | sedative | 1985 | ||
Mesocarb | stimulant | 1998 | [3] used to counteract the effects of benzodiazepines | |
Methyprylone | sedative | 1985 | ||
Midazolam | benzodiazepine | 1990 | ||
Nimetazepam | benzodiazepine | 1985 | ||
Nitrazepam | benzodiazepine | 1985 | ||
Nordazepam | benzodiazepine | 1985 | ||
Oxazepam | benzodiazepine | 1985 | ||
Oxazolam | benzodiazepine | 1985 | ||
Pemoline | stimulant | 1989 | ||
Phendimetrazine | stimulant | 1971 | ||
Phentermine | stimulant | 1985 | ||
Pinazepam | benzodiazepine | 1985 | ||
Pipradrol | stimulant | 1971 | ||
stimulant | 1971 | legalised in 1995[14] | ||
Prazepam | benzodiazepine | 1985 | ||
Pyrovalerone | stimulant | 1986 | ||
Temazepam | benzodiazepine | 1985 | becomes class A when prepared for injection | |
Tetrazepam | benzodiazepine | 1985 | ||
Triazolam | benzodiazepine | 1985 | ||
N-Ethylamphetamine | stimulant | 1986 | ||
Zolpidem | Ambien | nonbenzodiazepine | 2003 | [2] |
(b)
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(c) any compound (not being Trilostane or a compound for the time being specified in sub-paragraph (b) above) structurally derived from 17-hydroxyandrostan-3-one or from 17-hydroxyestran-3-one by modification in any of the following ways, that is to say, (i) by further substitution at position 17 by a methyl or ethyl group; (ii) by substitution to any extent at one or more of positions 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11 or 16, but at no other position; (iii) by unsaturation in the carbocyclic ring system to any extent, provided that there are no more than two ethylenic bonds in any one carbocyclic ring; (iv) by fusion of ring A with a heterocyclic system;
(d) any substance which is an ester or ether (or, where more than one hydroxyl function is available, both an ester and an ether) of a substance specified in sub-paragraph (b) or described in sub-paragraph (c) above;
(e)
(f) 1–benzylpiperazine or any compound (not being 1–(3–chlorophenyl)piperazine or 1–(3–chlorophenyl)–4–(3–chloropropyl)piperazine) structurally derived from 1–benzylpiperazine or 1–phenylpiperazine by modification in any of the following ways
(i) by substitution at the second nitrogen atom of the piperazine ring with alkyl, benzyl, haloalkyl or phenyl groups;
(ii) by substitution in the aromatic ring to any extent with alkyl, alkoxy, alkylenedioxy, halide or haloalkyl groups;
2. Any stereoisomeric form of a substance for the time being specified in paragraph 1 of this Part of this Schedule [not being phenylpropanolamine.]
3. Any salt of a substance for the time being specified in paragraph 1 or 2 of this Part of this Schedule.
4. Any preparation or other product containing a substance for the time being specified in any of paragraphs 1 to 3 of this Part of this Schedule.