Which schedule of drugs must be stored in a locked tamper-proof narcotics cabinet?

Schedule II drugs must be stored in a locked tamper-proof narcotics cabinet due to their high potential for abuse and addiction. These substances are considered to have the highest risk compared to other schedules, and their misuse can lead to severe psychological or physical dependence. Because of this risk, federal regulations require that Schedule II medications be stored securely to prevent theft and misuse.

In contrast, while Schedule III, IV, and V drugs also have associated risks, they are considered to have a lower potential for abuse relative to Schedule II drugs. Therefore, they do not carry the same stringent storage requirements and are generally allowed to be stored in less secured areas, although it is still advisable to safeguard them appropriately.