Schedules of Controlled Substances: Temporary Placement of 5,6-Dichloro Brorphine, 5,6-Dichloro Desmethylchlorphine, N-Propionitrile Chlorphine, and Spirochlorphine in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act
Key claim: The DEA has temporarily listed four synthetic opioid chemicals as Schedule I drugs, so making, selling, importing, exporting, or possessing them now carries the same criminal and regulatory penalties as other Schedule I substances except under tightly licensed research.
Abstract
(Rule · Justice Department, Drug Enforcement Administration) The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) issues this temporary order to schedule 1-(1-(1-(4-bromophenyl)ethyl)piperidin-4- yl)-5,6-dichloro-1,3-dihydro-2H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-one (commonly known as 5,6-dichloro brorphine or SR-14968); 5,6-dichloro-1-(1-(4- chlorobenzyl)piperidin-4-yl)-1,3-dihydro-2H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-one (commonly known as 5,6-dichloro desmethylchlorphine or SR-17018); 3-(3- (1-(1-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl)piperidin-4-yl)-2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H- benzo[d]imidazol-1-yl)propanenitrile (commonly known as N-propionitrile chlorphine or cychlorphine); and 8-(1-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl)-1-phenyl- 1,3,8-triazaspiro[4.5]decan-4-one (commonly known as spirochlorphine or R-6890), including their isomers, esters, ethers, salts, and salts of isomers, esters, and ethers, whenever the existence of such isomers, esters, ethers, and salts is possible, to schedule I under the Controlled Substances Act. DEA bases this action on a finding that placing 5,6-dichloro brorphine, 5,6-dichloro desmethylchlorphine, N- propionitrile chlorphine, and spirochlorphine in schedule I is necessary to avoid an imminent hazard to public safety. This order imposes the regulatory controls and administrative, civil, and criminal sanctions applicable to schedule I controlled substances on persons who handle (manufacture, distribute, reverse distribute, import, export, engage in research, conduct instructional activities or chemical analysis, or possess) or propose to handle these substances.
Why this matters
Temporary Schedule I placement immediately criminalizes manufacture, sale, import, export, and possession of these four synthetic opioid analogues outside tightly licensed research, giving DEA and prosecutors enforcement tools against emerging analogues before permanent scheduling. For researchers and clinicians, the action tightens registration and recordkeeping requirements for any legitimate study use, while signaling continued reliance on the CSA’s emergency scheduling authority to address novel opioid chemistries.