Class-Wide Scheduling of Fentanyl-Related Substances (FRS) (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
Dec. 3, 2024 |
| Report Number |
IN12468 |
| Report Type |
Insight |
| Authors |
Lisa N. Sacco |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that has recognized medical uses in pain management; it is a Schedule II
controlled substance under the federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA). Fentanyl analogues, in generic
use of the term, are similar in chemical structure to pharmaceutical fentanyl but are distinct substances;
some of these analogues are permanently controlled under the CSA, and some are not. Fentanyl-related
substances (FRS) are a defined set of fentanyl analogues.
On February 6, 2018, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) issued a temporary scheduling order
(TSO) that placed FRS (as a class) in Schedule I under the CSA for two years. Congress has extended the
TSO several times, and it is currently set to expire on December 31, 2024. This Insight outlines the
history and policy implications of class-wide scheduling. For an overview of the relevant legal
framework, see CRS Legal Sidebar, An Expiration Date for Temporary Control of Fentanyl Analogues.
