RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) – Attorney General Jason Miyares is joining a coalition of states asking the federal government to ban a drug known as “Designer Xanax.”
The substance, bromazolam, is a synthetic form of benzodiazepine, which is typically used for anxiety and insomnia.
Bromazolam is now being linked to a growing number of deaths across the country.
According to the Legislative Analysis and Public Policy Association, the substance first appeared in the illicit drug supply in the U.S. in 2019.
The Virginia Department of Health estimates nearly 150 bromazolam-related overdoses between 2021 and 2025.
“It’s incredibly dangerous, it’s incredibly potent,” Miyares said.
In a letter to the Drug Enforcement Administration, 21 Attorneys General write the drug is being sold illicitly on the streets and online. They say it’s highly potent, unpredictable, and lack any quality controls.
The letter added, this drug is being targeted towards children.
“They view it as this, if we are able to get you on the addiction, dealing with addiction when you are a teenager, we have a costumer for the next 10-20 years of your life,” Miyares said in reference to drug dealers.
Bromazolam is already a classified as a Schedule 1 substance in Virginia, defining it as having no medical use and high potential for abuse.
Federally, it remains unclassified. Miyares said this limits how much the country can crack down on selling this substance.
“At times when you bring it to federal court, you can also bring on federal charges, federal RICO charges depending on the nature of the case and who they are attached to in the narcotics distribution,” Miyares said.
Whether the drug will be banned federally, remains in the hands of the DEA.
Miyares told 12 On Your Side he plans to personally call DEA Administrator Terry Cole and talk to him about moving a federal ban forward.
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