The Durham-Humphrey Amendment (1951) established which types of drug categories?

The Durham-Humphrey Amendment of 1951 is significant in the context of pharmaceutical law as it established a crucial distinction between prescription drugs and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. This amendment clarified which medications would require a prescription for dispensing by a healthcare professional and which could be sold directly to consumers without a prescription due to their safety and efficacy profiles.

The key element of the amendment was to ensure that drugs dispensed through pharmacies would be classified based on their potential risks and the necessity of professional guidance in their use. Prescription drugs, as defined by this amendment, are those that require a licensed healthcare provider's approval for use, addressing the need for monitoring and professional oversight. On the other hand, over-the-counter medications are deemed safe enough for consumer use without a healthcare provider's intervention, allowing for broader access to these products.

In contrast, the other categories provided in the choices refer to different classifications of drugs that do not stem from the Durham-Humphrey Amendment. For example, the terms "generic and brand-name" refer to the marketing and patent status of drugs rather than their regulation, while "controlled and uncontrolled" addresses the scheduling of drugs based on potential for abuse, and "experimental and commercial" pertains to the development and approval stage of