The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has banned a drug linked to nearly 50 deaths in Kentucky, following a request from Attorney General Russell Coleman and a 21-state coalition, according to a press release.
On March 18, the DEA placed bromazolam, a synthetic benzodiazepine used to make counterfeit Xanax tablets, into the Schedule I category, which includes drugs with no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.
“The emergency scheduling of bromazolam is a decisive step to get ahead of a rapidly evolving threat. We will not wait for more lives to be put at risk,” DEA Assistant Administrator Cheri Oz, Diversion Control Division, said in the release. “This action closes dangerous gaps, disrupts access and gives law enforcement and public health partners the tools they need to respond. Protecting our communities from emerging drugs is a top priority, and we will continue to act swiftly to stay ahead of those who seek to exploit them.”
Officials said the designation allows law enforcement nationwide to crack down on bromazolam while raising awareness about its potentially deadly effects. The Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy reported 48 overdose deaths in 2024 involving the drug.
Often called “designer Xanax,” bromazolam is sold as counterfeit prescription pills, including benzodiazepines used to treat conditions such as anxiety, insomnia and seizures. Authorities said the drug is sold illegally on the street and online and has proven highly potent and potentially lethal, especially when combined with opioids or other central nervous system depressants.
Coleman and the coalition urged the DEA to schedule the drug after the Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force raised concerns. He also called on Kentucky health officials to ban it within the state. Gov. Andy Beshear banned bromazolam in Kentucky in August, within two weeks of Coleman’s request.
“Through zealous collaboration among our outstanding partners in Kentucky law enforcement, health officials and the Trump Administration, we’ve successfully banned bromazolam nationwide,” Coleman said. “We must continue to run faster to counter the deadly drug threat, and I’m grateful to all those who helped protect Kentucky families.”
Kentucky Health News is an independent news service of the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, based in the School of Journalism and Media at the University of Kentucky, with support from the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky.
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