Proposed Guidelines for International Control of Psychoactive Substances

Abstract

The World Organization is responsible for assessing the abuse potential and public health and social problems associated with the use of psychoactive substances and recommending whether such substances be subject to international control. Such control has potentially significant public health and economic ramifications. Applicable for all drug classes, guidelines are proposed that provide a mechanism for the objective, scientifically sound, and systematic review of psychoactive substances and which permit scheduling and descheduling decisions to be made on the basis of incomplete information. These guidelines provide for the quantitative evaluation of experimental, clinical, and epidemiological indices, which predict or document abuse and take into account the assessed reliability and volume of supporting evidence. While additional abuse-related information is generally helpful, its benefit must be considered in the context of costs. The establishment of guidelines acceptable to national and international agencies and individuals concerned with drug regulation and the pharmaceutical industry would enhance the cooperative spirit among the parties and lead to more willing acceptance of international substance control.