What did the Durham-Humphrey Act of 1951 accomplish?

The Durham-Humphrey Act of 1951 played a pivotal role in drug regulation in the United States by formally classifying medications into two distinct categories: legend drugs (also known as prescription drugs) and non-legend drugs (over-the-counter medications). This classification system was significant because it established criteria for which drugs could be dispensed only with a prescription from a licensed healthcare provider and which could be made available directly to consumers without a prescription.

By separating these categories, the Act aimed to ensure that patients received the appropriate level of care and oversight when using potentially harmful drugs that required professional guidance, while also facilitating access to safer medications that could be used safely without a prescription. This legal framework has guided how medications are prescribed and dispensed in the United States to this day, emphasizing the importance of patient safety and informed medical use of drugs.