Which schedule of drugs has less potential for abuse and includes medications like Xanax and Valium?

Schedule IV drugs are classified as having a lower potential for abuse compared to substances in higher schedules. This classification allows for the inclusion of medications such as Xanax (alprazolam) and Valium (diazepam), which are benzodiazepines. These medications are used to treat anxiety, panic disorders, and other conditions, and while they do have the potential to be misused, they are deemed to have less risk of dependence compared to those in schedules I through III.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) categorizes drugs into different schedules based on their potential for abuse, the presence of accepted medical uses, and safety. Schedule I drugs, for example, are deemed to have no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse, which sets them apart from Schedule IV drugs in terms of both risk and clinical application. Meanwhile, Schedule II and III drugs hold a higher potential for abuse compared to Schedule IV, which is specifically reserved for drugs that are considered to be less addictive and more therapeutically useful. Thus, the inclusion of Xanax and Valium under Schedule IV reflects their medical utility alongside lower risk factors regarding abuse and dependency.