Who provides a scientific and medical evaluation of a drug and recommends a schedule to the Attorney General?

The Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services plays a crucial role in evaluating drugs from a scientific and medical standpoint and subsequently recommending a scheduling status to the Attorney General. This process is essential in determining how substances are classified under the Controlled Substances Act, which regulates the manufacturing, distribution, and use of certain drugs.

The Department of Health and Human Services, particularly through the involvement of its various agencies, conducts rigorous assessments of drugs, focusing on their potential for abuse, medical usefulness, and risk to public health. Following these evaluations, the Secretary can provide recommendations on how a drug should be scheduled based on these findings, which are critical for the government's regulatory framework regarding controlled substances.

The other options, while relevant to public health and drug regulation, do not have the specific authority or process for making determinations regarding the scheduling of drugs. For instance, the Department of Justice is responsible for enforcement of drug laws but does not conduct evaluations for scheduling; the National Institutes of Health serves to conduct medical research but does not make scheduling recommendations; and the Food and Drug Administration is primarily focused on drug approval for safety and efficacy but does not recommend schedules to the Attorney General.