MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) – A synthetic drug is rising in popularity across the country, and along with it, more deaths from overdoses.
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall has joined a coalition of Attorneys General from 21 states to warn about the growing danger of Bromazolam.
The drug, also known as “Designer Xanax,” has been linked to numerous death across the country, and now, this 21-state coalition is sounding the alarm on what they call a dangerous and unregulated drug.
Bromazolam is commonly sold as pills, which are often passed off as prescription medication for treating anxiety and insomnia.
“People sort of see it marketed as designer Xanax,” Marshal said. “Maybe they think that there’s some purpose they can use it for in their lives. We know it’s addictive. We know it can be deadly, and it’s one that no one can trust.”
Because the drug is not regulated, law enforcement and other agencies are unable to hinder its distribution.
In a letter to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Attorneys General are asking the DEA to take emergency action and ban it.
They say this would help authorities remove the drug from from circulation and give law enforcement to tools to prosecute traffickers.
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