Which agency oversees the regulation of controlled substances in the United States?

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is the federal agency responsible for overseeing the regulation of controlled substances in the United States. This agency enforces the legal provisions of the Controlled Substances Act, which categorizes drugs based on their potential for abuse and medicinal value. The DEA's main objective is to prevent and combat drug trafficking and abuse by regulating the manufacturing, distribution, and dispensing of controlled substances.

This includes tasks such as issuing licenses to pharmacies and practitioners to handle controlled substances, enforcing legal penalties for violations of the Controlled Substances Act, and conducting investigations into drug-related offenses. The DEA also plays a significant role in establishing substance scheduling, which determines how strictly various drugs are controlled.

In contrast, other agencies such as the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) primarily focus on the safety and efficacy of pharmaceutical products, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) handles public health and disease control, and the NIH (National Institutes of Health) conducts medical research but does not regulate drug substances specifically. Therefore, the role of regulation concerning controlled substances distinctly falls under the jurisdiction of the DEA.