Hydrocodone is classified as which Schedule?

• A. Schedule IV
• B. Schedule II
• C. Schedule III
• D. Schedule I

Answer: (B)

Understanding how drugs are scheduled helps explain why hydrocodone is placed in Schedule II. Controlled substances are categorized by how high their potential for abuse is and whether they have accepted medical use. Hydrocodone is an opioid with a strong potential for misuse, but it has legitimate medical uses for pain relief. Because of this combination, it sits in Schedule II, meaning it’s tightly regulated and prescribed with strict controls to limit abuse and dependence.

For context, Schedule I substances have no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse, while Schedule III and Schedule IV have progressively lower abuse potential and more lenient prescribing rules. The upgrade of hydrocodone combination products to Schedule II in practice reflects the substantial risk of misuse despite medical usefulness.