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NU 578 CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS LATEST EDITION 2026
1. Which federal law established the five-schedule system for classifying controlled
substances?
A. Controlled Substances Act of 1970
B. Harrison Narcotics Tax Act of 1914
C. Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention Act of 1986
D. Ryan Haight Act of 2008
Rationale: The Controlled Substances Act of 1970 created the five-schedule system based on
abuse potential and medical use.
2. A drug with high abuse potential and no accepted medical use is classified as which
schedule?
A. Schedule I
B. Schedule II
C. Schedule III
D. Schedule IV
Rationale: Schedule I drugs have high abuse potential and no accepted medical use, such as
heroin and LSD.
3. Which of the following is a Schedule I controlled substance?
A. Heroin
B. Oxycodone
C. Alprazolam
D. Codeine
Rationale: Heroin has no accepted medical use in the U.S. and is Schedule I.
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4. A drug with high abuse potential but accepted medical use and severe dependence risk is
which schedule?
A. Schedule II
B. Schedule III
C. Schedule IV
D. Schedule V
Rationale: Schedule II drugs have high abuse potential, accepted medical use, and severe
dependence risk.
5. Which of the following is a Schedule II controlled substance?
A. Oxycodone
B. Alprazolam
C. Zolpidem
D. Codeine cough syrup
Rationale: Oxycodone is Schedule II. Alprazolam and zolpidem are Schedule IV; codeine cough
preparations are Schedule V.
6. Hydrocodone combination products were rescheduled in 2014 to which schedule?
A. Schedule II
B. Schedule I
C. Schedule IV
D. Schedule V
Rationale: The DEA moved hydrocodone combinations from Schedule III to Schedule II in 2014
due to abuse concerns.
7. A drug with moderate abuse potential and moderate dependence risk is which schedule?
A. Schedule III
B. Schedule I
C. Schedule II
D. Schedule V
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Rationale: Schedule III drugs have moderate abuse potential and moderate physical or
psychological dependence risk.
8. Which of the following is a Schedule III controlled substance?
A. Ketamine
B. Oxycodone
C. Alprazolam
D. Heroin
Rationale: Ketamine is Schedule III. Oxycodone is II, alprazolam is IV, heroin is I.
9. A drug with low abuse potential relative to Schedule III is which schedule?
A. Schedule IV
B. Schedule II
C. Schedule III
D. Schedule V
Rationale: Schedule IV drugs have low abuse potential and limited dependence risk relative to
Schedule III.
10. Which of the following is a Schedule IV controlled substance?
A. Alprazolam
B. Oxycodone
C. Ketamine
D. Heroin
Rationale: Alprazolam is Schedule IV. Oxycodone is II, ketamine is III, heroin is I.
11. A drug with the lowest abuse potential among controlled substances is which schedule?
A. Schedule V
B. Schedule IV
C. Schedule III
D. Schedule II
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Rationale: Schedule V drugs have the lowest abuse potential and least restrictive controls.
12. Which of the following is a Schedule V controlled substance?
A. Codeine-containing cough syrup
B. Oxycodone
C. Alprazolam
D. Ketamine
Rationale: Codeine cough preparations are typically Schedule V.
13. How many refills are permitted for a Schedule II prescription?
A. No refills permitted
B. One refill
C. Three refills
D. Five refills
Rationale: Schedule II prescriptions cannot be refilled; a new prescription is required for each
fill.
14. How many refills are permitted for Schedule III or IV prescriptions, and within what time
frame?
A. Up to 5 refills within 6 months
B. Up to 3 refills within 3 months
C. Unlimited within 1 year
D. Up to 2 refills within 6 months
Rationale: Schedule III and IV prescriptions may be refilled up to 5 times within 6 months of the
original order date.
15. When does a Schedule II prescription expire under federal law?
A. Federal law sets no expiration; state law may impose limits
B. 30 days
C. 6 months
D. 1 year
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NU 578 CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS LATEST EDITION 2026
1. Which federal law established the five-schedule system for classifying controlled
substances?
A. Controlled Substances Act of 1970
B. Harrison Narcotics Tax Act of 1914
C. Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention Act of 1986
D. Ryan Haight Act of 2008
Rationale: The Controlled Substances Act of 1970 created the five-schedule system based on
abuse potential and medical use.
2. A drug with high abuse potential and no accepted medical use is classified as which
schedule?
A. Schedule I
B. Schedule II
C. Schedule III
D. Schedule IV
Rationale: Schedule I drugs have high abuse potential and no accepted medical use, such as
heroin and LSD.
3. Which of the following is a Schedule I controlled substance?
A. Heroin
B. Oxycodone
C. Alprazolam
D. Codeine
Rationale: Heroin has no accepted medical use in the U.S. and is Schedule I.
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4. A drug with high abuse potential but accepted medical use and severe dependence risk is
which schedule?
A. Schedule II
B. Schedule III
C. Schedule IV
D. Schedule V
Rationale: Schedule II drugs have high abuse potential, accepted medical use, and severe
dependence risk.
5. Which of the following is a Schedule II controlled substance?
A. Oxycodone
B. Alprazolam
C. Zolpidem
D. Codeine cough syrup
Rationale: Oxycodone is Schedule II. Alprazolam and zolpidem are Schedule IV; codeine cough
preparations are Schedule V.
6. Hydrocodone combination products were rescheduled in 2014 to which schedule?
A. Schedule II
B. Schedule I
C. Schedule IV
D. Schedule V
Rationale: The DEA moved hydrocodone combinations from Schedule III to Schedule II in 2014
due to abuse concerns.
7. A drug with moderate abuse potential and moderate dependence risk is which schedule?
A. Schedule III
B. Schedule I
C. Schedule II
D. Schedule V
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Rationale: Schedule III drugs have moderate abuse potential and moderate physical or
psychological dependence risk.
8. Which of the following is a Schedule III controlled substance?
A. Ketamine
B. Oxycodone
C. Alprazolam
D. Heroin
Rationale: Ketamine is Schedule III. Oxycodone is II, alprazolam is IV, heroin is I.
9. A drug with low abuse potential relative to Schedule III is which schedule?
A. Schedule IV
B. Schedule II
C. Schedule III
D. Schedule V
Rationale: Schedule IV drugs have low abuse potential and limited dependence risk relative to
Schedule III.
10. Which of the following is a Schedule IV controlled substance?
A. Alprazolam
B. Oxycodone
C. Ketamine
D. Heroin
Rationale: Alprazolam is Schedule IV. Oxycodone is II, ketamine is III, heroin is I.
11. A drug with the lowest abuse potential among controlled substances is which schedule?
A. Schedule V
B. Schedule IV
C. Schedule III
D. Schedule II
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Rationale: Schedule V drugs have the lowest abuse potential and least restrictive controls.
12. Which of the following is a Schedule V controlled substance?
A. Codeine-containing cough syrup
B. Oxycodone
C. Alprazolam
D. Ketamine
Rationale: Codeine cough preparations are typically Schedule V.
13. How many refills are permitted for a Schedule II prescription?
A. No refills permitted
B. One refill
C. Three refills
D. Five refills
Rationale: Schedule II prescriptions cannot be refilled; a new prescription is required for each
fill.
14. How many refills are permitted for Schedule III or IV prescriptions, and within what time
frame?
A. Up to 5 refills within 6 months
B. Up to 3 refills within 3 months
C. Unlimited within 1 year
D. Up to 2 refills within 6 months
Rationale: Schedule III and IV prescriptions may be refilled up to 5 times within 6 months of the
original order date.
15. When does a Schedule II prescription expire under federal law?
A. Federal law sets no expiration; state law may impose limits
B. 30 days
C. 6 months
D. 1 year
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