The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not recognize trazodone as a controlled substance because studies have not shown that people who take trazodone are likely to start abusing the drug.

A controlled substance is an illegal or prescription drug deemed addictive or inclined to result in drug abuse and dependency. These drugs are categorized into different "schedules," with schedule I indicating that a drug has no medical use and the highest chance of resulting in dependence. Schedule II, III, IV and V indicate gradually more medical uses and less addictive properties. Schedule V drugs have the lowest potential for abuse.

Trazodone is not a narcotic either. Narcotics are opioids—drugs that relieve pain by blocking the pain receptors in your brain. Trazodone is an antidepressant medication that alters brain chemicals, called neurotransmitters, to help ease depression. As it interacts with these complex parts of the brain, it also can induce sleepiness, which is why doctors will sometimes prescribe it off-label for insomnia.

While trazodone is not a narcotic or a controlled substance, specific research on the abuse potential of trazodone is lacking. Clinical trials of trazodone did not show any signs of drug-seeking behavior.

Trazodone is intended for use in people with depression. However, trazodone is often prescribed off-label for other conditions, such as insomnia, and the drug's abuse potential has not been studied for these uses.

Trazodone is generally prescribed in much lower doses for people with insomnia versus those with depression. Other medicines that are sometimes indicated for insomnia, such as benzodiazepines, come with a higher risk of inducing dependency than trazodone. Despite the lack of evidence, trazodone is generally considered to have a low potential for abuse.