21 States Urge DEA to Ban 'Designer Xanax' Amid Deadly Overdoses

The Rise of Designer Xanax

• 💡 Bromazolam, also known as 'Designer Xanax,' is a synthetic benzodiazepine that has emerged on the illicit market.
• ⚠️ It is being linked to a surge in overdoses, sometimes fatal, with users often unaware they are not taking prescription Xanax.
• 🎯 The drug is compared to fentanyl's relationship with heroin, as it potentiates anxiety-reducing effects but also increases dangerous side effects like respiratory depression.

Calls for Emergency Action

• 🚨 A coalition of 21 state attorneys general has sent a letter to the DEA urging emergency action against bromazolam.
• 🚫 Kentucky has already outlawed the drug, which was manufactured but never FDA approved.
• ⚠️ Officials warn that taking these substances is akin to playing Russian roulette due to the high risk of fatal outcomes.

Ineffectiveness of Narcan and Overdose Statistics

• 🩹 Narcan, designed for opioid overdoses, is ineffective against bromazolam because it is not an opiate.
• 📈 Overdose deaths linked to these synthetic drugs have skyrocketed over 500% between 2019 and 2020.
• ⏳ There is concern that it could take 10-15 years to develop and distribute effective countermeasures, similar to the timeline for Narcan.

Public Health Warnings and DEA Review

• 🗣️ Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman emphasizes the message that 'one pill can and does kill,' especially given the state's high opioid death toll.
• 🔍 The DEA is currently reviewing the letter from the attorneys general.
• 🌐 Until a federal ban is in place, officials warn that the drug will continue to flood online markets and counterfeit pill supplies.