Alabama Joins Push to Ban “Designer Xanax” at Federal Level
21 State coalition is being led by Kentucky AG Russell Coleman
Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman is leading a coalition of 21 State Attorneys general urging the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to classify bromazolam—commonly called “designer Xanax”—as a controlled substance.
Alabama has just joined this coalition, with Attorney General Steve Marshall adding his name to the list of AGs supporting the move.
In a letter dated August 18, 2025, the coalition warned DEA Administrator Terry Cole that bromazolam is both highly potent and unpredictable, especially when mixed with opioids or other central nervous system depressants. They stressed: “Unlike regulated medications, illicitly manufactured bromazolam lacks any quality controls, making it particularly lethal for unsuspecting users.”
The group called for emergency action under the Controlled Substances Act, arguing it would help remove bromazolam from circulation, arm prosecutors to go after traffickers, and send a strong message that the drug does not belong on American streets.
Attorney General Marshall added urgency to the plea: “As we have witnessed firsthand, our coalition is confident that President Trump is deeply committed to the health and safety of every American. Bromazolam is an exceedingly dangerous substance that poses an urgent threat to our communities. To combat this menace effectively, our law enforcement agencies require immediate and comprehensive resources,” he said. “We urgently call on the DEA and the Trump Administration to recognize the gravity of this issue and take decisive action to eliminate this drug from our neighborhoods. The time for a strong, proactive response is now.”
This coalition mirrors recent moves in other states. In Kentucky, Governor Andy Beshear signed an emergency regulation classifying bromazolam as a Schedule I drug after nearly 50 overdose deaths last year were tied to it. Authorities say the drug is often sold as counterfeit prescription pills, including Xanax.
Virginia, meanwhile, already treats bromazolam as a Schedule I substance. Attorney General Jason Miyares called for extending that status nationwide, saying, “By classifying bromazolam as a Schedule I drug, Virginia gave law enforcement the power to get this lethal substance off our streets... Extending that classification nationwide will give every state the same tools to protect our communities.”
In Iowa, Attorney General Brenna Bird echoed the coalition’s call. She warned that bromazolam is “a lethal, counterfeit drug with no medical use that is highly addictive and killing Americans.” She also noted that Narcan—a common overdose reversal drug—is ineffective in emergencies involving bromazolam.
The letter notes that Kentucky alone saw about 47 overdose deaths in 2024 linked to bromazolam, a sobering number in just one sSate. And in San Francisco, a study found 44 bromazolam-related fatalities in 2023. Many of those deaths involved co-ingestion with fentanyl, methamphetamine, or cocaine, underscoring the drug’s deadly potential when mixed with other substances.
Bromazolam never had medical approval. It was first made in 1976 but never went to market. Instead, it resurfaced as a dangerous designer drug. It’s chemically similar to alprazolam (Xanax), making it easy to disguise—but far more hazardous because it’s made without oversight.
Because it remains unscheduled at the federal level, law enforcement lacks the standard tools needed to curb its spread. That leaves authorities scrambling to stop online sales and distribution in local communities.
