States Urge DEA to Ban Synthetic Xanax Amidst Overdose Spike

Designer Xanax and Overdose Crisis

• 💡 A synthetic drug, known as Designer Xanax or Bromealam, is linked to a rise in overdose deaths nationwide.
• 💊 This drug is designed to mimic prescription pills like Valium, Clonopin, and Xanax, but has never been approved for medical use.
• ⚠️ Bromealam is powerful, addictive, and possesses sedative, hypnotic, muscle relaxing, and anxiety-reducing effects.

Online Sales and Deadly Lacing

• 💻 The pills are frequently sold online, often targeting teens and young adults through social media or fake pharmacies.
• ☠️ A significant danger is that these pills are often laced with fentanyl, a highly potent and deadly opioid.
• 🩹 Narcan, an overdose reversal spray, is effective against fentanyl but not against Bromealam, increasing the risk of fatal overdoses.

State Actions and Federal Plea

• 📈 Designer Xanax has been associated with hundreds of deaths, including at least 47 in Kentucky last year.
• ⚖️ In response, 21 states are urging the DEA to take emergency action and ban Bromealam at the federal level.
• 📜 States argue that scheduling Bromealam will aid law enforcement in removing it from circulation and holding traffickers accountable.