DEA to Classify SR-17018 as a Schedule I Controlled Substance - What Can We Do?

The DEA recently issued a notice of intent to categorize the chemical SR-17018 as a Schedule I controlled substance. This proposed scheduling poses significant challenges for ongoing scientific research and limits the accessibility of a molecule that shows promise as an alternative to traditional, addictive opioids. SR-17018 functions as a biased agonist with a unique safety profile, providing effective pain management and potential for opioid cessation without the common negative side effects, such as respiratory depression and significant tolerance development. Public advocacy and coordinated letters to the DEA and legislators represent potential pathways to protest this move and protect scientific inquiry into this compound's clinical potential.