Kentucky officials say at least 47 people died in 2024 from overdoses tied to what's being dubbed 'designer Xanax.' Despite its potency, the drug is not scheduled in the state nor federally.

Kentucky

Kentucky officials have identified Bromazolam, an illicit drug designed to look like Xanax, as a growing public health threat. Last year, 47 deaths in the state were attributed to this substance. Law enforcement reports that Bromazolam is not currently classified as a controlled substance, making it difficult to prosecute traffickers or mandate treatment for users. Efforts are underway to have the drug scheduled at the state and federal levels, with Kentucky's Attorney General advocating for emergency action and coordination with the DEA. Six other states have already classified similar substances as controlled drugs.

Illicit drug spreading looks like Xanax, kills like fentanyl

This isn't Xanax. It's an illicit drug called Bromazolam, designed to look like it. State officials say pills like these killed 47 Kentuckians last year. We are definitely seeing more. This year, Scott Hardcorn is the director of the Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force. He says the drug hit the streets a few years ago, but he didn't set off alarms until a recent non fatal overdose case. When officer sees nearly 200 pills of what they thought was fentanyl. When the lab report came back, it said no controlled substance found, which was shocking to us. Shocking and frustrating because that meant it wasn't listed as a scheduled drug, not within the state and not federally. The lack of scheduling on this particular substance makes it extremely difficult, if not impossible, to hold those traffickers accountable. Another perfect example of drug dealers staying one step ahead of the law. I sat down with Kenton County Commonwealth attorney Rob Sanders 2. He says right now with Bromazolam law enforcement can only charge for trafficking a counterfeit substance that carries a sentence between one to five years, no matter how many pills are seized, we can't prosecute someone just for possessing it. Can't force them into treatment. These are real deadly substances that are killing people that overdose on him and we're having to treat it like it's not a drug at all. Sanders says that needs to change and that's where this letter comes in. Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman penned it Tuesday, calling on the state to take emergency action. You had a very determined leader from your Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force that wanted to put this threat from this synthetic. This designers annex on my radar. When I spoke with him directly, he said that he was going to make it a priority to help get this rescheduled or scheduled, and I'm confident that he'll do that. Six states have already classified designers annex as a scheduled drug. And Coleman tells me he's in talks with the DEA too, and would allow us allow federal law enforcement are great partners to then join with us as we're trying to deter this conduct and better protect Kentucky families in Covington. Valerie Lyons, WCPO 9 news.

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