Overview
Northeastern University requires that all individuals conducting research and academic activities with controlled substances be registered with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (U.S. DEA) and the state of Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MADPH), and must comply with regulations regarding the acquisition, storage, use, and disposal of such substances.
Controlled Substances (CS) are certain drugs or chemicals whose possession and use are regulated under the Title 21 of the United States Controlled Substances Act (CSA) and enforced by the US DEA and the MADPH.
Due to the potential for diversion or illicit distribution and, abuse, controlled substances are subject to federal, state, and university oversight regarding their manufacture, possession, distribution, storage, record keeping, and disposal. OARS oversees and assists NU personnel with compliance.
Note: Although Massachusetts has legalized marijuana, the state Cannabis Control Commission requires researchers to obtain a license and pay an annual fee.
Quick Links
DEA Licensing
Link to DEA license requirements
Substances by Schedule
Alphabetical List as of Sept. 2022
DEA Manual for Researchers
2022 edition
DEA Security Requirements
DEA Controlled Substances are classified in Schedules and each Schedule have different security requirements:
Schedule I: Drugs, substances, or chemicals with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. Examples, heroin, lysergic acid, diethylamide (LSD), marijuana (cannabis), methylenedioxymethamphetamine (ecstasy), methaqualone, and peyote.
Schedule II: are drugs, substances or chemicals with a high potential for abuse, with use potentially leading to severe psychological or physical dependence that are also considered dangerous. Examples include combination products with less than 15 milligrams of hydrocodone per dosage unit (Vicodin), cocaine, methamphetamine, methadone, hydromorphone (Dilaudid), meperidine (Demerol), oxycodone (OxyContin), fentanyl, Dexedrine, Adderall and Ritalin.
Schedule III: are defined as drugs with a moderate to low potential for physical or psychological dependence. Abuse potential is less than Schedules I and II but more than Schedule IV. Examples include products containing less than 90 milligrams of codeine per dosage unit (Tylenol with codeine), ketamine, anabolic steroids, testosterone.
Schedule IV: Are defined as drugs with a low potential for abuse and low risk of dependence. Examples include Xanax, Soma, Darvon, Darvocet, Valium, Ativan, Talwin, Ambien, Tramadol.
Schedule V: Are drugs defined with lower potential for abuse than Schedule IV and consist of reparations containing limited quantities of certain narcotics. General use of drugs in this schedule includes antidiarrheal, antitussive, and analgesic purposes. Examples include cough preparations with less than 200 milligrams of codeine or per 100 milliliters (Robitussin AC), Lomotil, Motofen, Lyrica, Parepectolin.
Schedule VI: Includes all prescription medications not already covered in the DEA Schedules I-V and that may or may not require a state of Massachusetts’s registration. MA DPH does not publish a list of these substances. Example: penicillin, Dilantan, Meloxicam.
Contact Biosafety
Email: biosafety@northeastern.edu
Phone: 617.373.2769
Northeastern University
Office of Academic and Research Safety/OARS
320 Renaissance Park
1135 Tremont Street