Which of the following drugs is classified as a Schedule II substance?

Codeine is classified as a Schedule II substance primarily because it has a high potential for abuse, which can lead to severe psychological or physical dependence. Schedule II drugs are recognized for their accepted medical use in the United States, often used for pain management or to suppress coughs, but they are tightly regulated due to their potential for misuse.

The classification system for controlled substances is designed to reflect the risk of addiction and the therapeutic value of the drug. Codeine, especially in its pure form or as part of combination medications, falls into this category due to its efficacy in treating moderate to severe pain and its potential for abuse when misused.

In contrast, substances like cannabis and ethanol, while they may have their own regulations and implications regarding legality and use, are classified differently. Cannabis is typically a Schedule I substance under federal law, indicating that it has no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse, while ethanol (alcohol) is not classified under the controlled substances act but is regulated separately. Methaqualone, once popular as a sedative, has been classified as a Schedule I substance due to its high potential for abuse and limited medical use, especially since it is mostly illegal in recent times. Thus, codeine stands out as the only