DEA Classifies Experimental Opioid SR-17018 as Schedule I Controlled Substance

DEA Action on SR-17018

The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) recently designated SR-17018 as a Schedule I controlled substance. This emergency scheduling places the compound in the same category as heroin, indicating it has no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. This decision was made in late August.

Research and Potential Benefits

Research led by Laura Bohn, funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, identified SR-17018 in 2017. Studies published in the journal Cell demonstrated that the compound could relieve pain in mice without causing respiratory depression, a common cause of death in opioid use. Further findings indicated that mice did not develop a high tolerance to SR-17018, and it could help morphine-dependent mice reset their tolerance without experiencing withdrawal symptoms.

Impact on Clinical Development

Prior to the DEA's action, Bohn's team had filed a patent for SR-17018 and was in the process of initiating human clinical trials. The Schedule I classification effectively halts these efforts, as the compound is now subject to strict federal controls. This decision impacts the potential development of a drug that researchers believed could offer a safer alternative for pain management and aid in opioid addiction recovery.

Public Use and Availability

Before its classification, SR-17018 was not federally controlled and was available for purchase online. Some individuals on platforms like Reddit and Discord reported using the compound to help manage opioid addiction, referring to it as beneficial for quitting other opioids. The DEA's scheduling makes its acquisition and use illegal outside of highly restricted research settings.