What law divided drugs into classes of prescription and non-prescription?

The law that divided drugs into prescription and non-prescription categories is the Durham-Humphrey Amendment. This amendment, enacted in 1951, specifically addressed the distinction between prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications. It established the legal framework that requires certain drugs to be dispensed only with a prescription due to their potential for misuse, side effects, or the complexity of their use, while allowing other drugs to be made available for purchase without a prescription.

In doing so, the Durham-Humphrey Amendment played a crucial role in ensuring that patients have access to safe medications tailored to their treatment needs, while also implementing necessary safeguards for drugs that require professional oversight. This classification directly impacts how pharmacies operate, as they must adhere to regulations regarding which medications can be sold without a prescription and which require professional evaluation by a healthcare provider.

The other laws mentioned do not specifically address the division of drugs into prescription and non-prescription categories. The Kefauver-Harris Amendment primarily focused on the efficacy and safety of drugs, the Controlled Substances Act regulates drugs with a potential for abuse, and the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act established the foundational regulatory framework for the safety and labeling of food, drugs, and cosmetics but did not specify