Is Adderall a controlled substance?

Yes. Adderall is a Schedule II controlled substance in the United States. The DEA list gives amphetamine as code 1100, Schedule II, and names Adderall among its other names. In the United Kingdom, amphetamine is a Class B drug in Schedule 2 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001, and it moves to Class A if it is prepared for injection.

What is Adderall?

Adderall is a brand name for a mixed amphetamine product. The label we use is ADDERALL XR, the extended-release capsule made by Takeda Pharmaceuticals America and published on DailyMed on May 6, 2026. It lists dextroamphetamine sulfate, dextroamphetamine saccharate, amphetamine sulfate and amphetamine aspartate as active ingredients. The label calls it a CNS stimulant. Its Indications section says it is indicated for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults and pediatric patients 6 years and older. It also says use is not recommended in pediatric patients younger than 6 years.

The label's pharmacology section describes amphetamines as "non-catecholamine sympathomimetic amines with CNS stimulant activity" and says the mode of therapeutic action in ADHD is not known. This page covers legal status only. Decisions about treatment belong to a patient and a prescriber.

What does Schedule II mean for Adderall in the US?

The regulation that defines Schedule II, 21 CFR 1308.12, lists amphetamine, its salts, optical isomers and salts of its optical isomers as the first stimulant entry, code 1100. Section 9.1 of the ADDERALL XR label says the same thing in one sentence:

ADDERALL XR contains amphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.

Schedule II is the second of five federal schedules, and the DEA schedules guide shows all five together. The prescription rules for Schedule II are stricter than for Schedules III to V. Under 21 CFR 1306.12(a), refilling a Schedule II prescription is prohibited, so each fill needs its own prescription. Section 1306.11 requires a signed written prescription for dispensing, with limited exceptions such as emergency oral authorization and a follow-up written prescription within 7 days.

The regulation does allow a practitioner to issue multiple prescriptions authorizing up to a 90-day supply in total, provided each is written for a legitimate medical purpose, carries an earliest fill date, and is permitted under state law. Nothing in the rule requires a practitioner to do this. States may add rules on top of the federal ones, and the state board of pharmacy is the authority on them.

What does the DEA list say about Adderall and narcotics?

The NARC column for amphetamine says N, so the list does not treat it as a narcotic. Adderall is a stimulant, not an opioid. The narcotic guide and the opioid guide explain why the word is used loosely in everyday talk and precisely in drug law. Compare fentanyl, which the DEA list marks Y.

What is amphetamine's status in the UK?

The Home Office list of commonly encountered controlled drugs (updated April 1, 2025) gives amphetamine as Class B, Schedule 2, with footnote 1. The footnote reads:

Falls within paragraph 6 of Part I of Schedule 2 of the MDA 1971 (ie Class A) if in a preparation designed for administration by injection.

That matches the Act itself. Schedule 2 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 lists amphetamine in Part II, the Class B drugs, and its Class A list includes any preparation designed for administration by injection that contains a Class B substance named in Part II. Schedule 2 of the Regulations is the schedule the Home Office list assigns to amphetamine. The UK drug classes guide sets out how class and schedule differ. Penalty bands for each class are published on gov.uk.

Why is amphetamine controlled?

Section 9 of the label supplies the reasoning. It says ADDERALL XR has a high potential for abuse and misuse, which can lead to the development of a substance use disorder, including addiction, and that it can be diverted for non-medical use into illicit channels or distribution. The boxed warning is titled "ABUSE, MISUSE, and ADDICTION" and states that misuse of CNS stimulants can result in overdose and death, a risk increased with higher doses or unapproved methods of administration.

On dependence, the label says the drug may produce physical dependence and tolerance, and that withdrawal after prolonged use can include dysphoric mood, depression, fatigue and sleep changes. Anyone concerned about their own use can speak to a prescriber or pharmacist, call 988 in the US, or use NHS 111 in the UK. In an emergency, call 999 in the UK, or Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 in the US.

Related stimulants and pages

Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine) is also Schedule II and is described on its label as a prodrug of amphetamine. Phentermine is Schedule IV in the US. The controlled substance guide explains how drugs reach a schedule, and the method page lists the sources and dates behind each status. The disclaimer explains that nothing here is medical or legal advice.

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