Schedules of Controlled Substances: Proposed Placement of Ketamine Into Schedule III

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is withdrawing a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) which was published on June 2, 1981 (46 FR 29484). This NPRM proposed the placement of the substance ketamine, and salts thereof, into Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). In 1981, however, the DEA concluded that evidence of actual abuse was not sufficient to proceed with the rulemaking process. The DEA did not withdraw the NPRM, but continued to monitor the diversion and abuse of the drug. In light of additional evidence, the DEA now has sufficient data to proceed with the control of ketamine. So as to eliminate any confusion which may arise regarding the basis of the proposed action, the DEA is withdrawing the original NPRM (46 FR 29484) and under a separate notice in this issue of the Federal Register, the DEA is publishing a new NPRM which proposes the placement of the substance ketamine, its salts, isomers, and salts of isomers, into Schedule III of the CSA.