What You Should Know About Indiana’s Drug Schedules

If you live in Indiana, it is important to be aware of the state’s Drug Schedules. Drug possession and trafficking are serious crimes which can carry severe penalties in Indiana. Drug Schedules classify controlled substances into different categories based on their potential for abuse and medical value. Knowing which drugs fall under each schedule can help you stay informed about drug laws in your state and protect yourself from legal trouble. In this blog post, we will discuss Indiana’s Drug Schedules and what they mean for drug possession cases.

Call 317-636-7514 to Speak With a Drug Charge Lawyer in Indianapolis Indiana.
Call 317-636-7514 to Speak With a Drug Charge Lawyer in Indianapolis Indiana.

Facts About Drug Scheduling in Indiana

Drug use, possession, or trafficking is illegal in Indiana. The state’s Drug Schedules are determined by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and state law. Schedules are I through V, with schedule 5 drugs being the least potential for abuse.

Schedule I Drugs

Drugs in Schedule I have no medical value, a high potential for abuse, and can lead to addiction. These drugs include heroin, LSD, ecstasy, and marijuana. Possession of these drugs can result in a Level 5 felony with up to six years in prison and fines up to 10,000 dollars.

Schedule II Drugs

Drugs in Schedule II have a lower potential for abuse and are sometimes used in medical treatments such as pain relief. These drugs include codeine, morphine, opium, cocaine, methamphetamine, and hydrocodone. Possession of these drugs can result in a Level 6 felony with up to two-and-a-half years in prison and fines up to 10,000 dollars.

Schedule III Drugs

Schedule III drugs have a relatively low potential for abuse and are sometimes used for medical treatments such as pain relief. These drugs include ketamine, anabolic steroids, testosterone, and some depressants. Possession of these drugs can result in a Level 6 felony with up to two-and-a-half years in prison and fines up to 10,000 dollars.

Schedule IV Drugs

Schedule IV drugs have an even lower potential for abuse than Schedule III drugs and are also sometimes used for medical treatments such as pain relief. These drugs include Xanax, Valium, Ambien, and restoril. Possession of these drugs can result in a Level 6 felony with up to two-and-a-half years in prison and fines up to 10,000 dollars.

Schedule V Drugs

Lastly, Schedule V drugs have the lowest potential for abuse and are used medically often as cough medicines. These drugs include some anti-seizure medications and some anti-nausea medications. Possession of these drugs can result in a Class A misdemeanor with up to one year in prison and fines up to 5,000 dollars.

Facing Drug Charges in Indiana?

Dealing with legal issues is never easy, yet even more so when the matter involves drug-related offenses. If you have been charged and need assistance from a professional, then enlist an experienced criminal defense attorney. These lawyers have experience and knowledge of the court proceedings for such matters, allowing them to effectively represent defendants like yourself no matter what situation you’re in. They will negotiate on your behalf to ensure that you receive the maximum benefit throughout and after the process. Contact an experienced criminal defense attorney in Indianapolis to ensure that you receive fair treatment and obtain the best possible conclusion to your case.

If you are arrested for a drug crime in Indiana, it is important to seek legal representation as soon as possible. Contact Attorney David E. Lewis at 317-636-7514 to schedule a free consultation with a licensed drug defense lawyer in Indianapolis, Indiana. We can start working on your case TODAY.

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An Introduction to Indiana Drug Schedules

If you or someone you love was recently arrested on drug charges, whether for possession or trafficking, it is important to understand the penalties they may face. Continue reading to learn the basics surrounding Indiana’s drug schedules, and what you should do if you are facing drug charges right now.

Drug Criminal Defense Lawyer 317-636-7514

Drug Criminal Defense Lawyer 317-636-7514


In our state, the law uses a grouping system to classify and delineate all drugs and controlled substances according to their abuse potential and addictive nature, including both legal and illegal drugs. These groupings, called “schedules”, were developed by the Federal government and Indiana legislature. They range in number and severity, from 1 to 5 (often represented in numeral letters, I – V), and can also be influenced by other factors, including the level of acceptance for medical treatment, physical dependence, and psychological dependence.

Schedule Drugs

Schedule 5 drugs fall under Indiana Code 35-48-2-12. They are considered to be the least dangerous and addictive and pose the lowest risk of dependency. This includes non-narcotics such as Tylenol, Codeine, and similar OTC drugs. A drug is a Schedule 5 substance if it has lower abuse potential than a Schedule 4 drug, is medically accepted, and is less likely to cause physical or psychological dependency than a Schedule 4 drug.

Schedule Drugs

Schedule 4 drugs fall under Indiana Code 35-48-2-10. They are measured to have a slight risk of physical or psychological dependency, but has a wide range of medically-accepted uses. This includes drugs like tranquilizers, clonazepam, diazepam, loprazolam, alprazolam, midazolam, carisoprodol, methohexital, and modafinil, clorazepate, triazolam, temazepam, and similar benzodiazepines.A drug is a Schedule 4 substance if it has lower abuse potential than a Schedule 3 drug, is medically accepted, and causes limited physical or psychological dependency than that of a Schedule 3 drug.

Schedule Drugs

Schedule 3 drugs fall under Indiana Code 35-48-2-8. They are considered to be any drug that has a moderate risk of abuse, but less dangerous than Schedule one and two drugs. This includes drugs like testosterone, anabolic steroids, ketamine, codeine, chlorphentermine, nalorphineand Buprenorphine (Suboxone), phendimetrazine, and benzphetamine.

Schedule Drugs

Schedule 2 drugs fall under Indiana Code 35-48-2-6. They are deliberated to be any drug less dangerous than Schedule I drugs. They may have legitimate medical uses, but with a high risk of abuse. A drug can be classified as a Schedule II if it has high abuse potential, is either medically accepted or has severe medical restrictions, and causes physical and psychological dependence. Schedule II drugs include cocaine, crack, PCP (phencyclidine), opium, raw opium, opium extracts, methamphetamines, amphetamines, methylphenidate, hydrocodone, morphine, oxycodone, hydromorphone, oxymorphone, methadone, pethidine, amobarbital, glutethimide, pentobarbital,and phenmetrazine.

Schedule Drugs

Schedule one drugs fall under Indiana Code 35-48-2-4. They are classified to be the most dangerous and have the highest abuse potential. They have a high potential for physical and psychological dependency, with no legitimate medical purposes or uses. Drugs like this include heroin, mescaline, peyote, benzylpiperazine, psilocybin, tetrahydrocannabinols (THC), methaqualone, MDMA (Ecstacy), and LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide).

For a complete list of controlled substances and Indiana drug schedules, Visit the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Diversion Control website.

Indianapolis Drug Defense You Can Trust

David E. Lewis Criminal Defense Attorney

David E. Lewis Attorney at Law 317-636-7514

Call Attorney David E. Lewis at 317-636-7514 for Indianapolis criminal defense for drug crimes in Indianapolis, Indiana. We never stop fighting to preserve your rights and your freedoms. Plus, we offer free initial consultations to discuss your charges and the best strategies for defense. Contact us today to learn your rights and get started on your defense!