All anabolic steroids are considered which schedule of controlled substances?

Anabolic steroids are classified as Schedule III controlled substances under the Controlled Substances Act. This classification means that anabolic steroids can be legally prescribed for medical use, provided there is a legitimate medical need and the prescriptions are properly documented.

The reason for their Schedule III designation lies in the potential for abuse compared to other anabolic agents, as well as their accepted medical uses for conditions such as hormone deficiency and muscle-wasting diseases. While anabolic steroids do have a risk of abuse, especially in non-medical contexts, they are not considered to have as high a potential for severe psychological or physical dependence as substances classified in higher schedules.

In practice, this means that while anabolic steroids are regulated and their distribution is monitored to prevent misuse, they can still be prescribed and dispensed under appropriate circumstances, unlike substances in Schedule I, which have no accepted medical use and are prohibited by law, or even Schedule II substances, which have a higher potential for abuse and lead to more stringent prescription rules.