Which of the following is NOT a Schedule II substance?

• A. Morphine
• B. Fentanyl
• C. Ketamine
• D. Methadone

Answer: (C)

Understanding how drugs are scheduled helps explain why some substances are more tightly regulated than others. Schedule II encompasses drugs with high abuse potential but accepted medical use, paired with strict controls. Morphine, fentanyl, and methadone are classic examples because they have serious risks of misuse and dependence, so the regulatory framework imposes tight prescribing and dispensing rules.

Ketamine, while also a controlled substance due to abuse potential, is classified as Schedule III. That reflects its medical uses as an anesthetic and analgesic and a lower relative risk of dependence compared with Schedule II substances. The scheduling allows for medical use with somewhat looser dispensing rules than Schedule II, even though it remains regulated.

So ketamine is not a Schedule II substance.